Michigan State University Athletics
Dantonio Joins Fight Against MD
10/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 23, 2008
EAST LANSING, Mich. - This Saturday, Michigan State's Mark Dantonio will join dozens of college football coaches across the country to fight one opponent, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. By wearing an armband with the Coach to Cure MD insignia, Dantonio and his peers will show their support for Coach to Cure Muscular Dystrophy, the American Football Coaches Association's (AFCA) newest charitable project.
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed during childhood. Since the Duchenne gene is found on the X-chromosome, it primarily affects boys; however, it occurs across all races and cultures.
In a partnership with the Parent Project for Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), all coaches in the AFCA have been invited to participate in Coach to Cure MD: a one-day, game-day awareness event and fundraiser for Duchenne research. Football fans will be able to donate to muscular dystrophy research either online, outside stadiums, or by texting the word "CURE" to 90999. For donations, visit the official web site: www.coachtocure.md.org.
"I'm excited to participate in the Coach to Cure MD project," Coach Dantonio said. "I join college coaches across America in an attempt to build awareness about this disorder and encourage fans to provide their financial support to assist researchers, who are hard at work trying to find a treatment and cure."
By participating in Coach to Cure MD, AFCA members also are demonstrating a commitment to the core academic mission of their universities and colleges, as much of the research that will be funded from the effort is taking place on college campuses.
Boys and young men with Duchenne lack dystrophin, a protein critical to the structural stability of muscle fibers. Patients develop progressive muscle weakness that eventually causes loss of mobility, wheelchair dependency and a decline in respiratory and cardiac function. Currently, there is no cure for Duchenne and limited therapeutic options exist.
"We take a comprehensive approach in the fight against Duchenne - funding research, raising awareness, promoting advocacy, connecting the community, and broadening treatment options," founding president and CEO of PPMD Pat Furlong said. "This project is totally aligned with our goals and we are excited about the Coach to Cure and the opportunities it presents."
About AFCA
The American Football Coaches Association was founded in 1922 and is considered the primary professional association for football coaches at all levels of competition. The 10,000-member organization includes more than 90 percent of head coaches at the 700-plus schools that sponsor football at the college level. Members include coaches from Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan and Mexico.
About PPMD
Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) is a national not-for-profit organization founded in 1994 by parents of children with Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophy. The organization's mission is to improve the treatment, quality of life and long-term outlook for all individuals affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy through research, advocacy, education and compassion. PPMD is headquartered in Middletown, Ohio, with offices in Fort Lee, N.J. For more information, visit www.parentprojectmd.org.
