For the last few weeks, PPMD has asked you to consider supporting the expansion of our Cardiac Initiative so that we can ensure potential Duchenne treatments support heart health. We set our most ambitious fundraising goal to date — $550,000.

Today, I am thrilled to report that thanks to the generosity of families like yours, we have again exceeded our goal!

As you know, cardiac research and heart health have been a priority of mine since my sons were diagnosed years ago. I knew we had to stop hearts from breaking — both literally and figuratively — in this disease, and I surrounded myself with people who felt the same. Over the last twenty plus years, we have discovered exactly how critical heart health is in Duchenne.

Heart issues don’t just affect some people with Duchenne; they affect all people with Duchenne. While advances in respiratory care have improved respiratory outcomes, heart muscle disease (or cardiomyopathy) and heart failure remain the leading cause of death in Duchenne.

Just as there are variations in onset of skeletal muscle weakness, there are variations in the onset of cardiac muscle damage. Eventually, nearly 100% of all people with Duchenne develop cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Cardiomyopathy is also a potential risk for mothers, aunts, daughters, and granddaughters who are carriers. We need to protect our hearts.

PPMD has heavily invested in the pursuit of optimal care, interventions, and research pertaining to the management and prevention of cardiomyopathy. Over the past decade PPMD has invested $5 million toward our focused Cardiac Initiative.

And now, thanks to this community — and the gracious match of a family that believes in PPMD — we have additional resources to invest into promising cardiac research getting to the heart of the matter.

Thank you for joining the fight to end Duchenne. Your belief in PPMD will be our inspiration as we head into this promising New Year.

Here’s to a happy 2019!

Pat Furlong
Founding President & CEO

P.S. It’s not too late to support PPMD’s Cardiac Initiative! Make your tax-deductible gift now.