Helena Bonham Carter Becomes Patron Of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Charity

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:30:00 +0000

British actress Helena Bonham Carter is the new patron of Action Duchenne, the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Charity.

Bonham Carter is the latest of a line of celebrities to support Action Duchenne, the Charity established to support parents and sufferers of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Duchenne affects 2,500 people in the UK and about 40,000 people worldwide. It has no cure and is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene that prevent correct reading of the genetic code, the result of which is that the essential muscle protein dystrophin is not produced. This results in progressive muscle wasting, severely limiting mobility in teenage patients (boys and men) and leading to premature death in their twenties from respiratory or cardiac problems (the heart muscle is directly affected by the genetic defect).

“As a patron of Action Duchenne, I would like to urge as many people as possible to find out about the work of the charity and the devastating effects of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy,” said Bonham Carter. “Treatments and a cure seem tantalisingly close but they will not appear without further support and funding. Please join Action Duchenne in helping to make muscle wasting history.”

Look To The Stars News: Action Duchenne

Helena Bonham Carter Becomes Patron Of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Charity