Darius & Jimmy at the screening of Darius Goes West
Jess and her classmates were intrigued by Darius and his friends, and the amazing feat that they have
accomplished together. Hearing Jess talk about it when she came home from school each day got us
thinking about ways to "pimp" Jimmy's wheelchair, and Performance Harley-Davidson helped us out!
After Jess's soccer game on October 22nd, we hurried to JD High School to see first-hand the movie that
inspired the kids. The movie - and the crew - motivated everyone who attended to act, donate, and tell
others about Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (as you can see in the photo above, just watching and
listening to everything that Darius and his friends have done to support ongoing research was exhausting
to Jimmy - lol!).
Darius and his friends started out on a mission to get his wheelchair "pimped" by MTV's Pimp My Ride.
Along the way, they stopped at tourist attractions across the US and built a lasting friendship, but the
journey turned into something much bigger. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy threatens the life of Darius
and many others because there is currently no cure for the disease. Darius and his friends seek to
change that, and they are on the road again to spread the word and raise money....and we can all help.
In the words of Darius himself, "Know about it!" The goal is one year, one million DVDs. Please support
this very worthy cause and buy a DVD!
accomplished together. Hearing Jess talk about it when she came home from school each day got us
thinking about ways to "pimp" Jimmy's wheelchair, and Performance Harley-Davidson helped us out!
After Jess's soccer game on October 22nd, we hurried to JD High School to see first-hand the movie that
inspired the kids. The movie - and the crew - motivated everyone who attended to act, donate, and tell
others about Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (as you can see in the photo above, just watching and
listening to everything that Darius and his friends have done to support ongoing research was exhausting
to Jimmy - lol!).
Darius and his friends started out on a mission to get his wheelchair "pimped" by MTV's Pimp My Ride.
Along the way, they stopped at tourist attractions across the US and built a lasting friendship, but the
journey turned into something much bigger. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy threatens the life of Darius
and many others because there is currently no cure for the disease. Darius and his friends seek to
change that, and they are on the road again to spread the word and raise money....and we can all help.
In the words of Darius himself, "Know about it!" The goal is one year, one million DVDs. Please support
this very worthy cause and buy a DVD!
WHAT IS DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY?
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe recessive X-linked form of muscular dystrophy that is
characterized by rapid progression of muscle degeneration, eventually leading to loss in ambulation,
paralysis, and death. This affliction affects one in 3500 males, making it the most prevalent of muscular
dystrophies. In general, males are only afflicted, though females can be carriers. The disorder is caused
by a mutation in the gene DMD, located in humans on the X chromosome. The DMD gene codes for the
protein dystrophin, an important structural component within muscle tissue. Dystrophin provides structural
stability to the dystroglycan complex (DGC), located on the cell membrane.
Symptoms usually appear in male children before age 6 and may be visible in early infancy. Progressive
proximal muscle weakness of the legs and pelvis associated with a loss of muscle mass is observed first.
Eventually this weakness spreads to the arms, neck, and other areas. Early signs may include
pseudohypertrophy (enlargement of calf muscles), low endurance, and difficulties in standing unaided or
inability to ascend staircases. As the condition progresses, muscle tissue experiences wasting and is
eventually replaced by fat and fibrotic tissue (fibrosis). By age 10, braces may be required to aide in
walking but most patients are wheelchair dependent by age 12. Later symptoms may include abnormal
bone development that lead to skeletal deformities, including curvature of the spine. Due to progressive
deterioration of muscle, loss of movement occurs eventually leading to paralysis. Intellectual impairment
may also be present but does not progressively worsen as the child ages. The average life expectancy for
patients afflicted with DMD varies from early teens to age mid 30s. There have been reports of DMD
patients surviving past the age of 40 and even 50.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe recessive X-linked form of muscular dystrophy that is
characterized by rapid progression of muscle degeneration, eventually leading to loss in ambulation,
paralysis, and death. This affliction affects one in 3500 males, making it the most prevalent of muscular
dystrophies. In general, males are only afflicted, though females can be carriers. The disorder is caused
by a mutation in the gene DMD, located in humans on the X chromosome. The DMD gene codes for the
protein dystrophin, an important structural component within muscle tissue. Dystrophin provides structural
stability to the dystroglycan complex (DGC), located on the cell membrane.
Symptoms usually appear in male children before age 6 and may be visible in early infancy. Progressive
proximal muscle weakness of the legs and pelvis associated with a loss of muscle mass is observed first.
Eventually this weakness spreads to the arms, neck, and other areas. Early signs may include
pseudohypertrophy (enlargement of calf muscles), low endurance, and difficulties in standing unaided or
inability to ascend staircases. As the condition progresses, muscle tissue experiences wasting and is
eventually replaced by fat and fibrotic tissue (fibrosis). By age 10, braces may be required to aide in
walking but most patients are wheelchair dependent by age 12. Later symptoms may include abnormal
bone development that lead to skeletal deformities, including curvature of the spine. Due to progressive
deterioration of muscle, loss of movement occurs eventually leading to paralysis. Intellectual impairment
may also be present but does not progressively worsen as the child ages. The average life expectancy for
patients afflicted with DMD varies from early teens to age mid 30s. There have been reports of DMD
patients surviving past the age of 40 and even 50.