Walk 4 Duchenne: Save Our Sons Raises Funds and Awareness for Muscular Dystrophy
A dedicated group of walkers recently completed a 92-kilometer journey across Perth, raising vital funds and awareness for Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. The event, known as Walk 4 Duchenne, is a flagship fundraising initiative for Save Our Sons Duchenne Foundation, Australia’s leading charity supporting families affected by these severe muscle-wasting conditions.
The Challenge and the Participants
The walk, which took place over four days, saw families affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy and their support networks come together to highlight the challenges faced by those living with the condition. Among the participants was 13-year-old Joshua Jones, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy. His family pushed him in his wheelchair throughout the entire four-day event, and he “hasn’t stopped smiling the whole time,” according to his mother, Michelle Jones.
For many children with Duchenne, walking becomes impossible between the ages of seven and twelve as the condition progressively weakens their muscles. The walk too drew support from individuals like Leanne James, who travelled from Melbourne and has participated in the event for 11 years, raising $180,000 for Save Our Sons through her fundraising efforts.
A Personal Mission: The Story of Save Our Sons
Save Our Sons Duchenne Foundation was founded in 2008 by Elie Eid after his son, Emilio, was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in 2006. Initially, Mr. Eid was given a grim prognosis for his son. “I was told to take him home and enjoy him while I still had him,” he recalls. Determined to fight for his son’s future, he established the charity as a personal mission that has grown into a global advocacy movement.
This year, Emilio celebrated his 22nd birthday, a milestone his father once feared he might not reach. Save Our Sons has been instrumental in funding nurses trained in muscular dystrophy care, increasing the availability of clinical trials in Australia. In Sydney alone, the number of trials has increased from two to twelve thanks to the support of these nurses.
Raising Funds for Research and Care
Walk 4 Duchenne raises approximately $1 million annually, which is used to fund nurses, improve access to care, and support clinical trials. Save Our Sons aims to provide families affected by Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy with better, quality care. The charity supports approximately one in 5,000 boys (and, rarely, girls) diagnosed with these conditions.
The walk concluded at Langley Park in Perth, with participants and supporters reflecting on the importance of continued research and advocacy until a cure is found.
Learn more about Save Our Sons and how to support their mission: https://saveoursons.org.au/pages/w4d25-elie-eid