Story by Pedro de Moraes Martinez

Sou Pedro de Moraes Martinez, 27 anos, jornalista, escritor e compositor. Moro em Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Fui diagnosticado aos 5 anos de idade. Apesar das dificuldades e obstáculos, vivo a vida intensamente. Gosto de esportes, filmes e música. Uso meus talentos para dar sentido a vida e coleciono momentos junto a minha família e meus amigos. Acredito que devemos lutar por nossa qualidade de vida e não desistir nunca de esperar a tão sonhada cura.


I am Pedro de Moraes Martinez , 27, journalist , writer and composer . I live in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul , Brazil . I was diagnosed at 5 years old. Despite the difficulties and obstacles, live life to the full. I like sports , movies and music . I use my talents to make sense of life and collect moments with my family and my friends. I believe we must fight for our quality of life and never give up waiting the long awaited cure.

Story by Wafic Zein

إسمي وفيق زين عمري ١٤ سنة، أعيش في لبنان أستخدم الكرسي المدولب منذ ٥ سنوات. أشكر الله لإنه منحني أماً رائعة وأب حنون. لدي أحلام كثيرة، أجملها أن أصبح مالك شركة سيارات، وأدعو الرب أن يساعدني لأحقق حلمي،لكن الرب يعلم ما هو الأفضل لي، هذا إيماني وهذا أنا. أحبكم جميعاً


My name is Wafic Zein and I am from Beirut, Lebanon. I’m 14 years old, I have been using the wheelchair since 7 years. I have a great mum and a tender dad. I have many dreams, one of them is to be a car dealer. I pray to God to help me reach my dream, but sure he knows what is best for me. That is my believe and that is me; love you all.

Story by Muhd Saifudeen

My name is Saifudeen and I have turned 18 this year. It was about 12 years ago when I was officially diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. I was unable to run, walk fast or be independent. And finally, about 8 years ago, when I was 10 years old, I was wheel-chaired.
I have always wanted to be a police officer since young. The thought of protecting my country and my love one makes me feel very self-fulfilling. After completing my primary school education, I was home-schooled for several years. I often shy myself from crowds and preferred to stay alone almost all the time. My dreams, hope and ambitions shattered ever since.
About a year ago, I was invited by Muscular Dystrophy Association Singapore to attend their programmes. Initially I was sceptical but deep inside I really hate being the way I was. I decided to take one step forward and give myself a chance.
Today, I’m an active member of MDAS. I’m attending their BRIDGE programme, a customized learning session where I get to learn Math, and Tamil. I’m also learning illustrator course which excites me since I have always enjoyed designing. Above all, I was recently chosen to participate in the National Disability League for Boccia.
I have never in my life imagined that I have the chance to dream to live my life the way I want but today, I have accepted my illness and I’m living happily with my family and friends.

Story by Aldair Vizgarra

Hola!!!!!!!! Me llamo Aldair Vizgarra  tengo 11 años Soy de Arrufo Provincia de Santa Fe  Argentina Vivo Con mi mama Jaquelin y mi papa Walter y mi hermana Mayor Melody padesco la distrofia muscular de Duchenne . Voy a quinto grado me levanto alas 7 de la mañana Siempre miro mis horarios en mi carpeta para tener musica es la materia que mas me gusta por que canto y bailo, cuando ponen musica en los recreos me pongo a bailar y me rodean todos los chicos y chicas y bailan junto a mi , trato de “SONREIR ALA VIDA” a veces me siento mal por que no puedo hacer lo que los demas chicos hacen como correr, saltar, jugar ala futbol.

Voy los Lunes y Miercoles a rehabilitacion , ala hora de la siesta  vienen mis mejores amigos que me acompañan siempre y nos ponemos  a jugar ala computadora o mirar videos en youtube de Rubuis, Lucas Castel,Rap y nuestro favorito cantante “SKRILLEX”.

Mi sueño es : que haiga  una cura contra mi enfermedad para salir adelante y mi otro sueño es conocer a skrillex y a los actores de star wars.

Como Soy? El chico Romantico y Facherito.

Story by Valentin Becker

Valentin est un petit garçon de 7 ans atteint de la myopathie de Duchenne c’est le troisième d’une fratrie de 4 que des filles!! . C’est un petit gars doux, calme mais aussi taquin. Son sourire pourvu de fossettes en fait craquer plus d’un ou une !!. Il adore les jeux vidéos ,les Pokémons, la nature la mer surtout et aussi les animaux dont il est bien entouré. Il est accompagné au quotidien par son chien d’assistance Ghus , un golden retriever de 4 ans .Il adore faire du tricycle mais aussi de l’équitation. Sur la photo il monte un poney shetland Lavande grâce à un module de selle appelé hippolib. A la rentrée Valentin rentre en Ce1, il fait un mi temps scolaire et est accompagné d’une AVS . Il adore apprendre , il est très curieux.

Story by Panos Nezos

Το όνομα μου είναι Πάνος Νέζος , είμαι από την Ελλάδα και γεννήθηκα στην
Αθήνα στις 29 Δεκεμβρίου 1991. Είμαι απόφοιτος του τμήματος Επικοινωνίας
Μέσων και Πολιτισμού. Το ποδόσφαιρο είναι το πάθος μου και όνειρο μου είναι κάποια μέρα να
μεταδίδω αγώνες στο ραδιόφωνο. Επίσης μου αρέσει να γράφω άρθρα για το
ποδόσφαιρο. Εκτός από το ποδόσφαιρο μου αρέσει να ταξιδεύω και να γνωρίζω διαφορετικές
κουλτούρες, αλλά και να μιλάω με τους φίλους μου στα κοινωνικά δίκτυα και
να βγαίνω βόλτες μαζί τους. Εάν μπορούσα να αλλάξω κάτι στον κόσμο αυτό θα ήταν να εξαλείψω τις
ανισότητες που επικρατούν σε όλο τον κόσμο και να εξαλείψω όλες τις
ασθένειες που υπάρχουν συμπεριλαμβανομένης και της Μυϊκής Δυστροφίας
Duchenne. Καθώς πλησιάζει η παγκόσμια ημέρα ευαισθητοποίησης της Duchenne ελπίζω κάθε
χρόνο την 7η Σεπτεμβρίου όλο και περισσότεροι άνθρωποι να ενημερώνονται για
την ύπαρξη της ασθένειας. Πιστεύω ότι σύντομα θα βγει κάποια θεραπεία ούτως
ώστε άτομα σαν εμένα να μην υποφέρουν άλλο. Τρείς άνθρωποι που θα ήθελα να συναντήσω από κοντά είναι ο Στίβεν Χόκινγκ,
ο Νέλσον Μαντέλα και ο Τζόρτζ Λούκας. Το ρητό που με εμπνέει είναι το ακόλουθο: Είμαι ο αφέντης της μοίρας μου,
είμαι ο καπετάνιος της ψυχής μου.


My name is Panos Nezos, I am 23 years old and I was born in Athens Greece
on December 29 1991. I graduated last year from Panteion Universty with a
degree in Communication Media and Culture. One of my main interests is
football and one day I want to broadcast football games by myself on radio,
also I like to write articles about football.
Furthermore I like to travel in new places and meet different cultures.
Of
 course another thing I like is talking to my friends on social media and go
out with them. If I could change the world I’d get rid of all the inequality around the
globe and also to make all the diseases including DMD extinct. Speaking of
myself I hope that every year on September 7 which is the Duchenne
Awareness Day more people have awareness of the disease and I believe that
one day soon a treatment will come out and people like me won’t suffer
anymore. If I could invite any three people dead or alive to dinner I would invite
Steven Hawking, Nelson Mandela and George Lucas.
The saying that inspires me is: I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.

Story by Wilson Ledesma

Soy Wilson Ledesma de General Pinedo, provincia del Chaco, tengo 30 años, nací el primero de Noviembre del año 1984. Soy profesor de inglés, escritor, abogado especializado en Derecho de Familia. Mi mejor recuerdo es cuando nos recibimos con mi mamá de abogados… tuve una gran cantidad de buenos sentimientos. Trabajo actualmente y desde hace más de tres años en el Juzgado de Paz de mi localidad. Me gusta compartir tiempo con mi familia en el lugar que sea, puesto que durante la semana con nuestras ocupaciones no nos vemos demasiado. Realmente mis personas favoritas son mi grupo familiar… Ver Los Simpsons, Cámara del Crimen cuando estoy solo o acompañado por alguien. Mi experiencia favorita es ir con mi familia a Talahuasi en Carlos Paz y la sigue siendo… ese lugar es un paraíso. Hoy me levanté a las cinco y media de la mañana, fui al juzgado desde las seis y media hasta la una, almorcé, tuve una pequeña siesta en la silla, estudié el nuevo código civil y comercial (para prepararme para rendir para juez de familia). Ayer hice lo mismo que hoy, cené a las 7, vi un rato televisión y a las 10 a la cama. Si Dios quiere mañana haré lo mismo que ayer y hoy J. Mi día es un éxito cuando me siento bien con Dios y conmigo mismo. Si pudiera cambiar algo en el mundo, lo acercaría a Dios. Cada vez se ven cosas peores; no hay amor, es todo dinero, sexo, libertinaje. Es difícil para el hombre reconocer algo superior pero por no hacerlo así estamos… Si pudiera invitar a una cena a tres personas serían mi abuela Lucia, mi abuelo Ledesma, por ser familiares queridos, a Santiago y a Teresita por ser grandes amigos. Me excedí en una… pero podemos hacer un lugarcito. Mi sueño es poder recuperar las fuerzas para tener más independencia y mejorar la calidad de vida tanto mía como de los que me rodean.


I am Wilson Ledesma from General Pinedo, The Province of Chaco, I was born on 1 November 1984 and I am 30 years old. I am an English teacher, writer, lawyer specialized in family law. My best memory is when I became a lawyer together with my mom… I had a lot of good feelings. Currently I am working for more than three years in the Magistrates Court in my town. Over the weekend I like spending time with my family, because with our jobs we do not see each other often during the week. When I am alone or with someone, I like to watch The Simpsons or Criminal Chamber. My favorite experience is to go with my family to Talahuasi in Carlos Paz and it still is… that place is like paradise. Today I got up at half past five, I went to the court at 6:30 to 1:00, had lunch, had a little nap in the chair, and I studied the new Civil and Commercial Code (to prepare myself to become a family court judge). Yesterday I did the same as today, I had dinner at 7, I watched television for a short while and at 10 I went to bed. If God wants, tomorrow I will do the same as yesterday and today. J My day is a success when I feel good and I feel good with God. If I could change something in the world, I would make it closer to God. Every time things get worse; there is no love, it’s all about money, sex, debauchery. It is difficult for man to recognize something bigger but since we are not doing so, the world is as it is. If I could invite three people to dinner it would be my grandmother Lucia, my grandfather Ledesma, as being family members, and James and Theresa for being great friends. It is one extra, but we could add another seat. My dream is to recover strength to become more independent and improve the quality of life for myself and the people around me.

Story by Stavros

ΟΝΟΜΑΖΟΜΑΙ ΣΤΑΥΡΟΣ  , ΕΙΜΑΙ ΑΠΟ ΤΗΝ ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΚΑΙ ΕΙΜΑΙ 7 ΧΡΟΝΩΝ. ΛΑΤΡΕΥΩ ΟΛΑ ΤΑ ΖΩΑΚΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΕΧΩ <<ΚΟΛΛΗΜΑ>>ΜΕ ΤΟΥΣ ΔΕΙΝΟΣΑΥΡΟΥΣ! ΜΟΥ ΑΡΕΣΕΙ ΝΑ ΚΟΛΥΜΠΑΩ ΣΤΗ ΘΑΛΑΣΣΑ ΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΑΔΕΛΦΗ ΜΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΤΟΝ ΚΑΛΥΤΕΡΟ ΦΙΛΟ ΜΟΥ ΤΟΝ ΕΡΜΗ! ΤΟ ΟΝΕΙΡΟ ΜΟΥ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΝΑ ΕΧΩ ΕΝΑ ΜΕΓΑΛΟ ΣΠΙΤΙ ΜΕ ΠΑΡΑ ΠΟΛΛΑ ΖΩΑΚΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΝΑ ΠΑΙΖΩ ΣΥΝΕΧΕΙΑ ΜΑΖΙ ΤΟΥΣ!


Hi, my name is Stavros, I am from Greece and I’m 7 years old. I love all animals and I am obsessed with dinosaurs. I love swimming with my two sisters and my friend Hermes. My dream is to have a big house with too many animals and continued to play with them.

Story by Florin Carciumaru

Numele meu este Carciumaru Florin si am saptesprezece ani. Locuiesc in Romania intr-un oras numit Pitesti si ce pot sa va spun este ca ea are peisaje frumoase,locuri istorice si monumente, inafara de asta ea deasemenea are multe manastiri. Daca doriti sa vizitati tara mea, pentru a stii despre natiunea mea,religie si obiceiuri, va rog veniti. Visul meu este sa fiu un programator IT in grafica, si deasemenea un tehnician IT, inafara de asta deasemenea vreau sa fiu un preot slujind la o manastire si sa termin facultatea de politehnica. Cand este weekend, imi place sa ma plimb afara o ora, prin jurul cartierului si deasemenea sa ma duc la sala, facand niste exercitii. Dupa ce fac asta, eu vin acasa si apoi citesc ceva sau ma joc niste jocuri pe computer cu prietenii mei online sau singur. Daca este ceva sa schimb in lume, este speranta la un viitor mai bun deoarece cand spui ,,Nu putem face nimic”, aceasta nu este adevarat. Nu politicienii schimba tara, ci oamenii care locuiesc in aceea tara. Ei doar asculta plangerile noastre apoi ei fac ceva cu ajutorul nostrum. Deci noi suntem puterea nu ei, si trebuie sa na ajutam reciproc, nu continuand sa fim prosti si sa mergem inainte pe cont propriu. Daca a-si putea invita trei prieteni cei mai buni, care vor fi varul meu, doi prieteni care I-am intalnit la un sanatoriu, noi am vorbi de fapt despre momentele noastre din ultimul timp,despre aspiratiile noastre si distractii si despre ultimele jocuri jucate si ultimele filme vazute. Unul dintre cea mai favorita experienta este cand am devenit un crestin responsabil. Aceia s-a intamplat cand mama mea a aflat despre boala mea cand aveam opt ani. Din acel moment, am inceput sa ne ducem la biserica in fiecare Duminica, apoi sa mergem la toate sarbatorile.Si eu pot sa ma spun ca este important sa mergem pe drumul lui Dumnezeu deoarece aceasta este singura fiinta care Ne tine in viata si in siguranta. Amintirea mea cea mai buna este cand am luat primul meu 10 la scoala la cursul meu favorit,Matematica.Aceasta s-a intamplat cand aveam unsprezece ani cand dadeam teza la Matematica. Amintirea mea cea mai amuzanta este cand ma jucam cu cainii mei de la tara, si le dadeam niste paine,dar acesti doi caini erau legati impreuna si se incaierau reciproc deoarece ei nu vroiau sa imparta mancarea. Cand ma trezesc de dimineata, mereu imi iau vitaminele si energia din mancarea mea care este mereu un suc de fructe (banane,portocale,grefe sau avocado), deasemenea un lapte de migdale cu cereale. Apoi ma duc la scoala, si dupa scoala, imi fac acasa temele si mereu imi fac exercitiile pentru a nu avansa boala.Cand sunt in vacanta, ma joc cu lucrurile mele sau scriu ceva.Deasemenea imi iau responsabilitatile ca crestin si ma rog in fiecare dimineata si noapte.Dupa ce fac toate acestea ma duc in pat si ma pregatesc pentru urmatoarea zi. Deoarece am fost interesat in ultimul timp cu tratamentul si sanatatea mea, m-am dus la presedintele asociatiei Duchenne din Romania,Isabela Tudorache si am aflat ce sa fac in continuare, si am facut niste analize despre sanatatea mea, si am vazut ca trebuie sa fac mai mult pentru a ma pastra bine, si deasemenea sa am grija de corpul meu, care este un pic mai gras. Maine, o sa fac exercitiile pe care doctorii mi-au aratat ieri, pentru a-mi remedia problemele si deasemenea o sa fac o plimbare pentru a ma pastra bine. Persoana mea cea mai favorita din jurul meu este fara indoiala mama mea deoarece ea m-a ajutat de la inceput, ea mi-a dat putere,curaj,cunoastere si puterea de a merge inainte cu tratamentul bolii mele. Aceasta este povestea mea, si imi doresc decat sa ma vindec de aceasta boala, deoarece nu-mi place sa fiu mai rau sau sa fim in scaun cu rotile. Daca cineva vrea sa ma ajute va rog faceti-o deoarece vreau sa fiu un om sanatos si sa merg oriunde fara frica.


My name is Florin Carciumaru and I am seventeen years old. I live in Pitesti, Romania. What I can tell you about my country is that it has beautiful landscapes, historical places and monuments; besides that it has many monasteries. If you want to visit my country, to get to know about our nation, religion and habits: please come. My dream is to become an IT programmer in Graphics, and an IT technician, besides that I also would like to be a priest serving at a monastery and to finish a polytechnic college. On the weekend I like to walk outside for an hour around the neighborhood, and to go to the gym. When I get home I read something or I play computer games with my friends online or alone. If I could change something in the world, it would be the hope for a better future, because when you say “There is nothing we can’t do”, this is not true. Not the politicians change a country, but the people who live in that country. They just listen to our complaints and then they do something with our help. So we have the power, and we must help each other, we must stop being stupid and move forward on our own. 

If I could invite my three best friends to dinner, it would be my cousin and two friends which I met in a sanatorium. We would talk about our aspirations and pastimes, and about our the games we played and the movies we watched. One of my most favorite experiences is when I was eight years old and I became a responsible Christian. That happened when my mother found out about my disease. From that moment, we began to go to church every Sunday and we went to all celebrations. I can tell you that it is important to move on God’s way, because He keeps us alive and safe. One of my best memories is when I was eleven years old and I got my first 10 at school for my favorite course, mathematics. Another funny experience happened when I was once playing with my dogs on the countryside and feeding them bread. The two dogs were bound together and they clashed on each other because they didn’t want to share their food. 

When I wake up in the morning, I always get my vitamins and energy from my food which is always a fruit juice (banana, orange, grapefruit or avocado), with almond milk and cereals. Then I go to school and after school I do my homework and my exercises. When I am on vacation, I play with my things or I write something. I also take my responsibilities as a Christian, I pray every morning and night. Lately I have become more interested in my treatment and my health, I went to Isabela Tudorache, the president of Parent Project Romania, and I found out what I to do further. I made some analyses about my health, I know now that I need to do more in order to stay good and I also need to take care of my body. Tomorrow I will do the exercises that the doctors showed me yesterday and I will go for a walk. My favorite person to have around me is undoubtedly my mom, because she helped me from the beginning, she has given me strength, courage, knowledge and the power to move forward with the treatment for my disease. This is my story, and I wish to cure from this disease, because I don’t like it to get worse or to have to go into a wheelchair. I want to be a healthy man and to go anywhere without fear.

Story by Franco Augustín Torrilla

Hola! Me llamo Franco Agustín Torrilla, cumplí 5 años en Abril, naci en la ciudad de Mar del Plata, provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina hace dos años me mude con mis padres a la ciudad de Paraná provincia de Entre Ríos. Vivo con mis papás en el fondo de la casa de mis abuelos maternos. Todas las mañanas voy al jardín y por las tardes hago kinesiología, terapia ocupacional y fonoaudiología.

Las tardes de los martes y jueves son mis preferidas porque hago natación; en el agua me siento un “pececito” como me dicen los profesores. Desde febrero soy uno de los integrantes más pequeños de la escuela de natación adaptada “Chapuzón”, junto a mis compañeros y profes ya participe de dos torneos. Me encanta bailar… y también me gusta mucho pintar, para mi último cumpleaños mi madrina me regalo un atril, muchos pinceles de distintos tamaños, hojas y temperas, me gusta pintar escuchando música. Como naci en Mar del Plata, que es una ciudad balnearia, y crecí ahí hasta los tres años me gusta mucho jugar en la arena y meterme al mar, cuando podemos nos hacemos una escapadita con mis papis. Mi sueño es conocer Brasil.


Hello! My name is Franco Agustín Torrilla, I turned five in April. I was born in the city of Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Two years ago I moved with my parents to the city of Parana in the province of Entre Rios. I live with my parents in the back of my grandparents house. Every morning I go to the garden and in the evenings I do kinesiology, occupational therapy and speech therapy. 

Tuesday and Thursday afternoons are my favorites because I swim; in the water I feel a “little fish” as my teachers are saying. Since February I’m one of the youngest members of the adapted swimming school “Dip”, together with my classmates and teachers I already participated in two tournaments. I love to dance … and I also like painting, for my last birthday my godmother gave me an easel, different sizes of brushes, leaves and temperas, I like to listen to music while I am painting. As I was born in Mar del Plata, a seaside resort, and lived there the first three years of my life, I really like to play on the beach and to swim in the sea. When we can we go on a short trip with my parents. My dream is to get to know Brazil.