On October 13, 2018, the sixth annual Argyle Run For Our Sons took place at Hilltop Elementary School. This event helps the fight to end Muscular Dystrophy.

Muscular dystrophy, also known as Duchenne’s, is a genetic disorder that affects one in every 3,500 live male births, across all races. Duchenne can be passed from a father to a son, however, about 35% of the time it is caused by an unplanned spontaneous mutation. Duchenne affects the human body through a mutation that causes dystrophin to be absent. Dystrophin is a protein that helps prevents muscles from injury, by strengthening the muscle fibers. Without dystrophin, muscle cells are easily impaired. This causes problems throughout the entire body, especially the heart and lungs, lowering the male lifespan by almost sixty years.

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©The Talon News | Ella Sheridan

Community members compete in the sixth annual Run For Our Sons. (Ella Sheridan/ The Talon News)

Run For Our Sons began in 2005, with 20 runners who ran in the Walt Disney World Marathon. The movement inspired hundreds of groups to start their own Run For Our Sons marathon. Events such as the one at the elementary school take place across the country, through schools, churches, and families and friends. The race held here was a Mile Fun Run and 5k race. The race takes place on a Saturday every year around mid-October. Many families and school organizations come to support student Corbin Fanning, a freshman, and others are affected by the disorder.  

Sources:

http://join.parentprojectmd.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Understand_abouthttp://www.duchenne.com/importance-of-dystrophin

http://join.parentprojectmd.org/site/PageServer?pagename=race_to_end_duchenne

http://join.parentprojectmd.org/site/TR?fr_id=5052&pg=entry