Dundee FC Supporters' Society, working closely together with the board at Dundee FC, continue our Community health initiatives with a very emotive and important family charity for the Boxing Day match v Morton. We are delighted to be able to welcome Action Duchenne to Dens, along with a very special guest of the Club, where they will have an information stand in the Bobby Cox with leaflets available to fans throughout the stadium. At half time during Monday's game, representatives from Action Duchenne will be presented with a signed top and ball to help add to their fundraising efforts.
Dean Widd of Action Duchenne is the Regional Development Officer for Scotland, Ireland and the North East and has been in regular contact with Community Director Jacqui Robertson, working hard to make the day at Dens as successful as possible. We at the Society and Football Club were delighted to offer Dean's son Arryn, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, the opportunity to be our Boxing Day mascot. Dean told us about Arryn and his unwavering smile, despite what must be a difficult condition for a teenager of 13 to deal with.
“Arryn was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy when he was 4 and half years of age. We had never heard of the condition before and did not realise how much this would impact everyone's lives. Just after Arryn's 9th birthday he lost the ability to continue to walk and went into a wheelchair full time. The condition is relentless with a 100% fatality rate seeing those living with condition having a life expectancy of late teens to early twenties. However, his determination to try and do well at school along with his smile does not fade as with all the others living with Duchenne and Becker.
“Action Duchenne is determined to do everything we can to try not to lose another generation and find a viable treatment and possible cure. However this can only be done through raising funds and awareness by way of the kind support shown by people looking to make a difference. The support of Dundee FC is greatly appreciated and so vital in helping Action Duchenne continue to move forward. Thank you for supporting Action Duchenne and helping to make a difference while giving hope to those living with Duchenne and Becker.”
Community Director Jacqui Robertson said, "Until recently I had never heard of Duchenne and in my time organising this day with representative Dean, I have been humbled by what I have learned. The condition was recently highlighted on the X Factor with a lot of immediate response on social networking sites as it clearly touched people's hearts, particularly when lives are cut so tragically short. We want to help Dean and everyone involved with Action Duchenne to spread the word, increase knowledge of this condition, and the added bonus would be to help them to raise some much needed funds.
“We have been working with Action Duchenne on their Score4Duchenne campaign over the last couple of months to organise their day at Dens, and we’re delighted to have organiser Dean and his son Arryn who has Duchenne as our mascot this afternoon. Thanks also to Alan Provan and the staff at Provan Sports who, after hearing Arryn's story, donated a top for him to wear on Monday.”
A text link for Dundee fans has been set up for donations, along with a link to the website. Please take a second to read about Duchenne and your club's support of this currently incurable condition with an opportunity to sponsor or text your donation on behalf of your club.
To donate easily and quickly using your mobile phone Text “ACTION S4DD” to 70003 to give £3 to help fund research and make hope a reality for everyone living with Duchenne. You can also visit Score4Duchenne - Dundee online for more details.