Waco, Texas -- For
the fourth year in a row, college football coaches nationwide will
join together in support of the Coach to Cure MD program, which
will be held during games of Saturday, September 24, 2011. The
rapidly growing annual effort has raised nearly a million dollars
to battle Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and should easily top the
million-dollar plateau in 2011.
On September 24th, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA)
members will wear a Coach to Cure MD logo patch on the sidelines
and college football fans will be asked to donate to research
projects supported by Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, the
largest nonprofit organization in the U.S. focused entirely on
Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Football fans can donate to Duchenne muscular dystrophy research
by either going online to www.CoachtoCureMD.org or by texting the word
CURE to 90999 (a $5 donation will automatically be added to your
next phone bill).
Last year, more than 9,400 college coaches at 373 different
institutions participated in the Coach to Cure MD event. Both those
figures are well higher than in any of the program’s first
two years (2008-09). The three year fundraising total is just shy
of $875,000, putting Coach to Cure MD on pace to go well over one
million dollars after this season.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common fatal genetic
disorder diagnosed during childhood and primarily affects boys
across all races and cultures. Boys and young men with Duchenne
muscular dystrophy develop progressive muscle weakness that
eventually causes loss of mobility, wheelchair dependency and a
decline in respiratory and cardiac function. Currently, there is no
cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and limited therapeutic
options exist.
“Our coaches have really embraced the Coach to Cure MD cause
over the last three years,” said Grant Teaff, executive
director of the AFCA and legendary former coach at Baylor
University. “Because the disease affects so many young boys,
it makes sense for college football coaches to step in and make a
difference. We are proud to see so much support on the sidelines
every September, from coast to coast at every level of
play.”
“The “Coach to Cure MD” Campaign is an
outstanding example of how the popularity and prestige of NCAA
Football can be channeled to benefit an important and meaningful
cause,” said Montana State head coach Rob Ash, who is the
current president of the AFCA. “The exposure that our coaches
and programs will provide to the effort to cure this terrible
disease will be significant, and our game will make a difference in
the lives of those people who are battling MD. We are happy and
proud to be part of the effort to end Duchenne.”
“The coaching staff at Oregon State is honored to be a part
of the Coach to Cure MD program to bring awareness to such a
debilitating disease,” said Oregon State coach Mike Riley.
“We are privileged in college football to work with
outstanding student-athletes, but Duchenne robs young men and boys
of this opportunity. With the
help of college football fans
across the country we have a chance to defeat this
disease.”
In addition to the coaches’ efforts, families affected with
Duchenne muscular dystrophy will also gather for fund-raising
tailgate parties on campuses around the country to encourage more
fans to get involved.
“Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) is thrilled to
have the continued support of the AFCA as we head full speed into
the fourth year of Coach to Cure MD,” said Pat Furlong,
founding president and CEO of PPMD. “This year we will
undoubtedly hit the million dollar mark, which means continued
funding of critical research for this devastating disorder. We are
confident that with the AFCA on our team and the incredible support
of participating universities across the country, we will end
Duchenne.”
About PPMD
Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) is a national
not-for-profit organization founded in 1994 by parents of children
with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. The
organization’s mission is to end Duchenne. We accelerate
research, raise our voices in Washington, demand optimal care for
all young men and educate the global community. PPMD is
headquartered in Middletown, Ohio with offices in Fort Lee, New
Jersey. For more information, visit www.parentprojectmd.org.