Join us in Celebrating Duchenne Awareness Day 2021
100% of the money raised from this campaign will be used to develop a customized therapy ($2m cost), using CRISPR. This innovative science can correct mutations that cause DMD, which in turn would create functioning muscle for boys like Fritz!
On the seventh day of the ninth month (79), we ask our community to raise awareness & funding for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy with temporary tattoos. These tattoos are a representation of 3 of the 79 exons that exist in our DNA to create dystrophin; a protein needed for muscles to maintain their integrity. Any error within the 79 exons causes Duchenne.
Fritz has a deletion of exons 57, 58, and 59 ie; the tattoo! So we want to put on our bodies what his is missing, to amplify our fight against this rare disease!
Here's how the Tattoos works (it's simpler than the science, we promise!)
1. Make a donation
2. Tell us how many tattoo's you would like us to send you (use the comment section)
3. Wear your tattoo proudly on Sept 7, 2021, Duchenne Awareness Day
4. Share a picture on social media and tag us using @fritzandfriendsdmd and hashtag #strengthismorethanmuscle
Our goal this year is to raise $5,000. All funds raised will help fund the infrastructure and science needed to develop a customized, life-changing therapeutic for Fritz, and others living with Duchenne. We encourage everyone to join our efforts in raising both awareness and funding for Duchenne on Duchenne Awareness Day, Sept. 7, 2021.
Strength is more than muscle, strength is our community raising awareness with every intention of finding a cure!
*Donations must be made by Sept 2 to guarantee the tattoo's will be delivered by Sept. 7, 2021
🧬DNA is found in every cell of our body and carries all of our genetic information
👖A section of DNA is called a gene. Each gene is made up of smaller parts called introns and exons.
🧩Individual exons link together to create instructions for making proteins. All the exons fit together like a puzzle.
📖Ribosomes then read the step-by-step instructions so that the body can create the needed protein.
💪Dystrophin is a protein found in muscle cells. It helps strengthen muscle fibers and protects them from injury as muscles contract and relax.
💪👖The dystrophin gene ( the largest gene) contains 79 exons that are linked together to form the instructions for making the dystrophin protein.
❌🧩❌Duchenne is caused by mutations or errors to the dystrophin gene, within the exons. Most commonly, one or more exons are missing, and the remaining exons don’t fit together properly. Because of this error in the genetic instructions, cells cannot make dystrophin, a protein muscles need to work properly.
📔The Recipe Book- DNA
📖Specific Recipe- Gene
🧩Ingredients- 79 different exons
📝Recipe Steps- the order in which one would match up the 79 exons.
👨🍳Baker- Ribosomes
💪Final product- Dystrophin! and muscles that work properly!
Fritz has a deletion of Exons 5️⃣7️⃣•5️⃣8️⃣•5️⃣9️⃣ causing Duchenne to wreak havoc on his body. So in efforts to raise awareness, and remind everyone that strength is more than muscle™, we choose to put on our body’s what his body is missing.