September 7 is World Duchenne Awareness Day or WDAD. Each year, an annual campaign aims to increase awareness of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. World Duchenne Awareness Day raises awareness and inspires action to improve the lives of people living with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy.
For this reason, WDAD calls upon all stakeholders to join the global campaign by lighting up landmarks and monuments in red, and organizing activities and events on September 7.
Duchenne & Becker Muscular Dystrophy
Duchenne and Becker MD are rare genetic diseases defined by muscle weakness. Muscles are getting weaker over time. This ultimately affects the ability to breathe as well as the function of the heart, as the heart is a muscle too. People born with Duchenne and Becker need care from many specialists throughout their lives.
There are over 250.000 people worldwide living with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy. With the current standards of care, people with Duchenne can live into their early 30s and beyond.
Objectives of World Duchenne Awareness Day
Although the condition Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy was first described more than 150 years ago, not many people are aware of the impact of this disease on the lives of individuals with Duchenne themselves, their siblings and their entire family.
More awareness among a wider audience would help to avoid a delay in diagnosis, better understanding of their problems, improvement of medical care and more support in general
- Raise global awareness on Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD and BMD).
- Engage and educate all stakeholders to adopt effective strategies to improve the lives of people living with DMD/BMD.
- Call for urgent and sustainable actions by all stakeholders
- Advocate for the adoption of best practices regarding Standards of Care
The initiative was established in 2013. Through World Duchenne Awareness Day, the World Duchenne Organization works to highlight important aspects that deserve more attention.
Yearly WDAD themes
- 2024: Raise your voice for Duchenne
- 2023: Duchenne: Breaking Barriers
- 2022: Women & Duchenne
- 2021: Adult Life & Duchenne
- 2020: Duchenne & the Brain
- 2019: Nutrition & Duchenne
- 2018: Standards of Care
- 2017: Duchenne Dreams
- 2016: Early Diagnosis
- 2015: Duchenne Stories
- 2014: Faces of Duchenne