The time to act is now
DOUBLE the impact of your donation
Every dollar donated will be matched until December 31
Your donations to support innovative research have made a difference. Muscle saving treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy have been developed and approved in several countries outside of Canada. Now lives depend on those treatments becoming available to your loved ones here at home.
When you are the parent of a child with a muscle-wasting disease who, without access to new treatments, faces a life-shortening diagnosis, you would do absolutely everything in your power to save them. And time is not on our side.
Donate today to mobilize this parental passion, helping to make transformational change and bring hope across our border.
Each day that passes means weakened muscles, decreased mobility, and loss of independence for each person living with Duchenne. These families need time. And there is no question that time is off their side. We have made incredible strides and have accomplished a lot together. You are the reason families living with Duchenne have hope.
Life can change in an instant.
It changes when people receive the official diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. And it can change again when treatments that are so critically needed finally become available in Canada.
You have fought hard to change the lives of those affected by Duchenne. We must continue this fight to make sure that families like the Mordens, Havills, and Dhaliwals can get access to a high-quality standard of care and the treatments they desperately need.
Hear their stories:
A Word from Lisa McCoy, CEO of Defeat Duchenne Canada
For families living with Duchenne, time truly is muscle. But there is hope on the horizon.
Thanks to your tireless fundraising efforts, research continues to be done, advancements are being made, new therapies are being developed and with our collective advocacy efforts, there is renewed hope that at least one effective treatment for Duchenne could soon be approved here in Canada.
There is so much promise for Duchenne families – things are changing quickly. Our voices are louder than ever and our community is uniting to march toward a future where safe and effective treatments currently approved elsewhere will make their way across our border.
This is our moment to stand as one big, extended family and to make sure no one has to wait any longer for life-saving treatments. Your donation makes our work possible and fuels our mission of bringing hope and transformational change to families across the country.
Thank you for being a member of our Duchenne family of families.
For Eric Morden, time is muscle because…
“I was able to stand up out of my chair and walk a few steps in 2019. Fast forward two years, and I wasn’t able to anymore. You never know how quickly muscle strength can go away.
I’m 24 now and have been in clinical trials since I was 11. There is still no cure or approved treatments available in Canada.” – Eric Morden
Eric’s story is one of perseverance and frustration. Life-saving treatments that could slow the progression of Duchenne are available elsewhere, yet Canadians are left.
Remove the barriers that stand in the way of accessing critical treatments. Donate today to make change happen faster and bring hope to Canadians living with Duchenne.
For the Havills, time is muscle because…
“My son is still young; he is still ambulatory. He doesn’t know what this disease holds, and we don’t either. We continuously ask ourselves what are the things we want to do as a family that we might not be able to do even next summer? What are the places we want to see; the life experiences we want him to have?
With adequate treatment, we will have more time to experience life.” – Linnea Havill, Maverick’s Mom
Maverick is at a critical age, where the gap between him and his peers is starting to widen. Without access to life-saving treatments that could improve his quality of life, his ability to stay active, socialize, and feel included is at risk.
We can’t let more children like Maverick lose out on their dreams. Donate now to give families the gift of time.
For the Dhaliwals, time is muscle because…
“Although we received his diagnosis early, and it at least gave us a little bit more time to prepare for what’s to come ahead, every minute, every hour he’s losing some muscle.
When he sees what he was doing yesterday, and the next, he’s no longer able to, that’s hard for him.” – Navjot Kaur, Mother
The Dhaliwals know that treatment could mean a world of difference, not only for their son’s physical health, but also for his mental well-being. Without treatment, their son may face challenges in school, making it harder to make friends and participate in activities.
But with access to life-saving treatments, there is hope for a fuller, more independent life. Donate today to bring life-changing treatments to Canada and give their family hope for the future.
Families living with Duchenne need YOUR help now more than ever.
Your donations have been instrumental in changing the lives of families affected by Duchenne across both Canada and the globe. But, our fight is not done yet. Help remove barriers preventing access to safe and effective treatments for Canadians with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Donate today and continue the fight with us for families like the Mordens, Havills, and Dhaliwals. And for families like yours.