Friday, September 09, 2011

The Coalition Duchenne Expedition Mount Kinabalu Flag Off

KOTA KINABALU: An international team of 35 climbers from nine countries led by Coalition Duchenne Founder Catherine Jayasuriya, will scale Mt Kinabalu today to raise global awareness for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The climbers also plan to raise the Coalition Duchenne banner at the summit the following day that will include the names of the major organizations dedicated to finding a cure for Duchenne.

“20,000 boys are born each year with Duchenne with more than 50 each day. My 18-year-old son Dusty Brandom is one of those boys and we realized that what we needed most was global awareness and money for research so that boys like him could have longer lives,” Catherine said at the Coalition Duchenne Expedition Mount Kinabalu Flag Off held at Shangri-la's Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa yesterday.

“We are stronger if we all come together as humans, as a force, as a coalition, bringing together not just Duchenne charities but everyone. We need to focus on changing the course, taking our quest to another level,” she said.

“Mt Kinabalu always stood for stability, strength and gives me hope as a mother on a journey with a son suffering from Duchenne,” she added.

“Mt Kinabalu is a challenging mountain. But the challenges are far greater for those living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. These climbers are climbing for the boys and young men with Duchenne who cannot climb because their muscles are so weak that they cannot even hug their parents,” said the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Masidi Manjun who officially flag off the Coalition Duchenne’s global event.

“The Ministry supports this endeavor and we are proud that Coalition Duchenne has chosen Sabah as the venue for this annual event,” said Masidi.

Continue reading at: The Coalition Duchenne Expedition Mount Kinabalu Flag Off

Related Reading: Obama backs Mount Kinabalu climb to highlight disease
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