Elijah is my 4 year old son. He has Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a rare genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness over time.

At the moment, Elijah is a bright, active little boy who loves life, but we are already seeing early signs of how Duchenne affects his muscles. Everyday things like running, climbing stairs and getting up after a fall take more effort for him than for other children his age.

Duchenne is a life-limiting condition. As it progresses, children gradually lose muscle strength, and most will require a wheelchair in childhood or early adolescence as walking becomes increasingly difficult. It also affects the heart and respiratory muscles over time, which is why ongoing research and improved treatments are so urgently needed.

There is currently no cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Treatments can help slow progression, but families like ours are ultimately relying on research to change what the future looks like.

That’s why I’m taking part in Ks for Kids. I’m walking to raise funds for the Children’s Medical Research Institute, which supports vital research into genetic diseases like DMD and many other childhood conditions.

Every step is for Elijah, and for other children facing similar diagnoses. I’m hoping to raise both awareness and funds that will help scientists move closer to better treatments and, one day, a cure.

Thank you for supporting us and being part of this journey.