Disability Services Minister and member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt will climb the 922 metre high Walsh’s Pyramid at Gordonvale this Friday (JUNE 24) to raise awareness about Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Minister Pitt said he was honoured to be climbing with Chris Roberts, who cofounded Parent Project Australia in Cairns in 2003, which supports families living with Duchenne (DMD) and Becker (BMD) muscular dystrophy.
“People with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy can struggle with every step, and most boys with the condition need a wheelchair by age 12,” Mr Pitt said.
“This is a chance for me to climb for all the boys with this condition who cannot. A chance to play for all the boys who cannot, and a chance to raise awareness about a condition that cuts short the lives of so many young boys,” he said.
“As a father with a young son, I can’t imagine spending 20 years watching this devastating disease take hold and my heart goes out to all the families who have lost sons to this condition.
“It’s been a little while since I’ve climbed the Pyramid, but today I’m trying to raise awareness and to raise funds to find a cure and I encourage everyone to visit www.duchennefoundation.org.au to learn more.”
Mr Pitt said Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), the most commonly occurring terminal genetic disease, affects around one in 3,300 boys and no treatment is currently available.
“There is treatment for DMD or BMD, and those who suffer from the condition rarely live beyond 30,” he said.
“Early detection is key to improving the quality of life for people with DMD, with a range of treatments available to help delay muscle wasting.
“Early symptoms, which appear in boys aged between two and five, may include difficulty running, jumping, climbing and rising from the floor, frequent falls, enlarged calf muscles, toe walking and delays in language acquisition.”
If people wish to sponsor Mr Roberts and Mr Pitt, they can do so at www.everydayhero.com.au/climb2cureduchenne
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