I was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at three years old. It was the late 90’s and PPMD was just beginning to grow as an organization. We found Pat Furlong and through her were connected with the best physicians and healthcare team. I was lucky to have these opportunities from such an early age and as a result, supporting Duchenne research and PPMD has become a passion of mine.

I have seen the approvals of several therapies since my diagnosis, but we have yet to find a way to protect my heart and prevent the decline of cardiac function that is inevitable for people with Duchenne and Becker. I have been on various medications for years and have seen how being proactive makes a difference when it comes to this disease.

Now is the time for all of us to be proactive. Invest in PPMD’s Cardiac Initiative and commitment to ACTION today to ensure that our hearts will grow stronger with every beat.

PPMD’s goal this holiday season is to raise $400,000 for the Advanced Cardiac Therapies Improving Outcomes Network (ACTION), a learning health system focused on children and adult heart disease patients at risk of heart dysfunction or with heart failure.

Your generosity will fund ACTION’s goal to optimize care and improve outcomes for those living with Duchenne-related cardiomyopathy. Your gifts will also support ACTION’s critical efforts to create the largest multicenter database on Duchenne cardiac care practices and outcomes to date.

I am so glad that the ACTION providers are working together to gather and share more data. And hopefully from this work, they will ensure that hearts grow Stronger With Every Beat. Make your gift to PPMD today.

Protecting my heart is important to me because it will increase my lifespan and allow me to live a longer and healthier life.

Give now to support PPMD’s Cardiac Initiative and commitment to ACTION. Every donation helps hearts grow stronger with every beat.

PPMD’s efforts in research and care have increased the quality and length of my life. Your investments have made a difference and will continue to do so for me and countless others.

Thank you,

Colin Werth
PPMD Adult Advisory Committee (PAAC) Member
PPMD’s Connect Coordinator, Virginia

P.S. Help make hearts stronger now. Give today to support PPMD’s Cardiac Initiative.