More than 70 volunteers will compete in Cape Town's Two Oceans half-marathon to raise awareness around congenital muscular dystrophy."It gives you gratitude," said one of the volunteers, who, like most of the participants joining the cause, is a first-time runner.A four-year-old Cape Town boy diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy has inspired a group of volunteers to compete in this year's Two Oceans half-marathon.
, a knowledge base dedicated to rare diseases led by the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research.Like all other forms of muscular dystrophy, L-CMD causes progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass but at a more rapid rate, with the degenerative nature of the disease affecting both the lungs and heart during early childhood.
Because he cannot swallow, a suction machine is used to prevent saliva build-up and asphyxiation, while food is administered through a feeding tube attached directly to his stomach. "If you look into his eyes, you can see that it gives him great pleasure for you to move, and I think that's why he loves it when we take him on a run.
The foundation aims to do this by enlisting volunteers to participate in high-profile, public sporting events, like the Cape Town Cycle Tour and Two Oceans Marathon, under the Little Lighthouse banner. "These people moved outside of their comfort zones for a little boy, not even knowing that they're also moving forward for themselves."
Inspiring 👏👏