http://cuse.com/news/2016/9/16/foot...n-coach-to-cure-md-program.aspx?path=football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. –The Syracuse coaching staff will show its support for the Coach to Cure MD program on Saturday, Sept. 24 when the Orange visit Rentschler Field to take on the Connecticut Huskies. Orange coaches and other American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) members around the country will wear Coach to Cure MD logo patches on the sidelines this weekend to help raise awareness of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Football fans can donate to Duchenne muscular dystrophy research by 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 10,000 college coaches at more than 525 institutions participated in Coach to Cure MD events. The program, now in its ninth year, has raised just over $1.2 in the fight against this disease.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed during childhood and primarily affects boys of all races and cultures. People with Duchenne develop progressive muscle weakness that eventually causes loss of mobility, wheelchair dependency and decline in respiratory and cardiac function. Currently, there is no cure and limited therapeutic options exist.
"It is an honor for our coaches to continue to serve an important cause as Coach to Cure MD," said AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry. "The support from our membership at all levels is tremendous. You can't watch a game that weekend without seeing our coaches prominently displaying their arm patches."
In addition to the coaches' efforts, families affected with Duchenne will also gather for fundraising tailgate parties on campuses around the country to encourage more fans to get involved.
"For nine years now, the AFCA and the incredible coaches that make up the organization have played a pivotal role in raising awareness for Duchenne" said Pat Furlong, founding president and CEO of Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD). "Raising awareness is one of the greatest tools we have to fight this horrible disease. The coaches and teams that participate in Coach to Cure MD are more than just our teammates in the fight to end Duchenne. They have become family, raising money and awareness on behalf of every single person living with Duchenne."
Start time for the Orange and Huskies is slated for 1 p.m. on the CBS Sports Network.
