The "DPS Help DMD patients" initiative is a campaign that is being done to by me and my fellow students to raise funds to help young boys from very poor families who are suffering from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). We have a schoolmate at the DPS school whose name is Karanveer Singh. He is currently in grade 12, a brilliant student and a wonderful human being. He is a DMD patient and is wheelchair bound. So we understand the problem.

What is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)?

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. DMD is caused by an absence of dystrophin, a protein that helps keep muscle cells intact. It starts early in childhood, affects mainly boys and usually ends with them not surviving beyond their teens.

What is the life expectancy for a DMD patient?

Until relatively recently, boys with DMD usually did not survive much beyond their teen years. Thanks to advances in cardiac and respiratory care, life expectancy is increasing.

HELP ME RAISE INR 20,000 & IMPACT THE LIFE OF ONE DMD PATIENT FOR A YEAR.

All the funds collected from this initiative will go to the NGO- DART (Dystrophy Annihilation Research Trust) located at Dollars Colony, Bangalore. This NGO works towards finding a cure and treating patients with DMD. Treatment for this in the USA and West runs into lakhs per year. INR 20,000 will provide medicines and physiotherapy for underprivileged kids with DMD for one year.

Currently, there is no CURE for this but DART is working towards that too.  

The money raised, will be given to DART. You get a tax benefit by funding this campaign. The team at DART will share the details of which patient benefitted from your funding with me. I shall then post an update on this campaign giving you details of the child whose treatment is being funded so that you know where your money has been used.

CASE STUDY OF A DMD PATIENT

Karan comes from a well to do family and has parents who understand what the best course of treatment is. However, the majority of DMD patients come from extremely poor backgrounds and need monetary help to treat their sons. This campaign is about transforming their life by funding their treatment. 

DMD FACTS

The muscle weakness of Muscular Dystrophy often begins in the legs. This makes it difficult for a child to walk normally, and he or she may walk with their feet wide apart to help keep balance. The child may use his or her hands and arms to get up from the floor and assist with standing. There may be frequent falls, a waddling gait, limited range of motion and pain in the calves. By 12 years of age, a child is often completely unable to walk and must use a wheelchair. Over time, muscle weakness gets worse. These include muscles in the neck and arms & chest. This can result in such complications as deformities in development of the bones of the chest and spine and scoliosis. This can lead to serious complications, including difficulty in breathing and pneumonia. Some children may also have mental impairment, cardiac arrhythmias or cardiomyopathy.

ABOUT ME & THIS CAMPAIGN:

Pic: This is me

Hi, I am Anoushka Kamath, a student of Class 10th of DPS Bangalore North. I enjoy and appreciate mysteries ,photography, intellectual conversations and most importantly helping people in distress, an enthusiastic follower of UNICEF, their campaigns and motives. Being diagnosed with a rare dystrophy has motivated me to participate in this vigilant program. The team of DART, a non-profit NGO, works for the betterment for children diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy, a fatal disease. To feed our productive young minds, the team of FuelAdream teamed up with our school to start a crowd funding program to help these kids. This has inspired us to help for this great cause too. I myself being a patient of a Dytrophy, empathize and want to achieve the most I can in my power for the success of this campaign. The fact that a contribution of just Rs 20000 can fund the treatment of a underprivileged child suffering from DMD for an entire year made me realize that I must do something to help. I strongly believe that we can help children suffering from DMD and make a difference to their lives. This is my one wish and resolution for the year and I do hope that you, the helpful citizen of this society, will help me in achieving my goal! Please fund my campaign and help me help children in need!

THE PARTNER NGO:

The funds from this campaign go to DART. They are Bengaluru based.

All the receipts get tax benefits & will be sent to you directly from DART. They have the necessary 80G certification and also have an FCRA certificate (This means that even funding from foreign sources is accepted).

HOW YOU CAN HELP & HOW FUNDS WILL BE USED

We are raising money to cover the cost of treatment of one child who is suffering from DMD and comes from an underprivileged family for a year. Once the campaign ends, we will get an update from DART telling us about who the beneficiary of the donation is.

For this campaign, the students will get the " details of patients & their family background". 

TAX BENEFITS:

By funding this campaign, you are eligible for tax breaks as DART is a registered NGO & you can avail benefits under section 80G of the IT act. Foreign funding is accepted. If you are an Indian living abroad or a person holding an Indian passport you can EASILY fund this campaign.

ABOUT DART:

Dystrophy Annihilation Research Trust [DART] is the first Research lab in India focusing on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). We are a parent founded and funded organization working towards achieving a realistic treatment option to alleviate and reverse the dystrophy condition at the genetic level thereby enhancing the quality of life of affected children.

DART was founded by RS Anand who has been tirelessly working towards a deeper understanding of DMD since discovering his son was affected by DMD in 2003. With India having more than 5L boys with DMD it was startling that no proper research was being done for the same.

DART was established in 2012 with the idea of providing support to affected children and their families in dealing with muscular dystrophy. Anand is the founder of DART, current President and the driving force behind the organization.

DART IN THE NEWS:

‘DART is a blessing. They gave me confidence when most GPs said there was nothing that could be done. I enjoy the atmosphere at DART. There is a lot of optimism and determination and that gives me hope’ – Mala (Parent)

LOCATION OF DART:

The DART office and research division is located at 295, 14th Cross Rd, AGS Layout, Dollars Colony, R.M.V. 2nd Stage, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560094