World Duchenne Awareness Day
www.worldduchenneawarenessday.org
Mission Statement
The Muscular Dystrophy Foundation of South Africa is a non-profit organisation that supports people affected by Muscular Dystrophy and Neuromuscular disorders and endeavours to improve the quality of lifestyle of its members.
MDF Is now a Ruby!
Muscular Dystrophy Foundation is turning 40 this year since its founding in 1974 by Mr. and Mrs. Newton Walker of Potchefstroom who, at the time, had a son affected with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. They, together with Wally Gough, Chairman of the Rotary Club of Potchefstroom and representatives of Cripple Care Association formed the Foundation. The foundation was established with the aim of reaching out to other parents and families in a similar situation and to support research into this disease with the ultimate goal of finding a cure and has been carrying out this aim ever since then.
It is time for us to take a step back and reflect on our journey from whence we came, up to where we are now, having stood the test of time and continued to persevere as a foundation.
The 40th follows the 25th anniversary as the second most important milestone in any life’s journey. 40th also stands for a Ruby meaning “a precious stone”, rubies are red, and MDF is red…… what a coincidence! Life also begins at 40, and this definitely means the beginning of a new era for us. We celebrate the 40th anniversary as a historic event in our life time. It is a great opportunity to evidently place our organization on the map as well as to dynamically drive awareness and service delivery programs within our South African communities.
At this time we celebrate and honor of those who founded the foundation, those who continuously provide support it as well as those who are still running it. In support of those living with muscular dystrophy and in memory of those who have passed on, it is our duty to ensure that the ruby anniversary comes with a focus on the turning point of our developmental goals, which include educating and empowering those around us and our nation, creating more equal caring and copying services for people affected by muscular dystrophy, supporting affected people with specialised assistive equipment, striving for the recognition and protection of the rights of people with disabilities and those affected by muscular dystrophy, generating funds to support and sustain our work, collaborating and communicating on a national, provincial, international, governmental and non-governmental basis on policy matters relating to all aspects of muscular dystrophy and disability, policy matters relating to all aspects of muscular dystrophy and disability and envisioning the extension of our service to the nation.
On behalf of the Foundation, I would like to thank our stakeholders, associated corporations and organisations, the public, government and private sectors, our members, volunteers and families, all persons with disabilities and all those who continue to stand with us, in the fight against muscular dystrophy in South Africa. Happy 40th MDF.
