Hundreds of people are set to walk 10km on Sunday September 12 to raise funds so that two young brothers can go to the US for pioneering, lifesaving treatment.
Organised by Newry-headquartered company Around Noon, the walk is in aid of the Brody and Cooper appeal which raises funds to help Brody (8) and Cooper (5) Peden fight Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a rare and severe form of muscular dystrophy that is incurable and life-limiting.
Thanks to ground-breaking treatment they are receiving in the US, they are making great progress.
However, the family simply can’t fund the treatment without the help and support of family, friends and the local community. Costs amount to £150,000 each year.
Around Noon’s fundraising walk starts at 9am on Sunday 12th September at McKevitt’s Service Station (Barneys), on the border of the Old Dublin Road Newry, walking to ‘The Mast’ and back; those interested can register their interest by contacting the Brody + Cooper appeal Facebook page.
Brody and Cooper Peden from Newry
All money raised through the walk will go towards Brody and Cooper’s treatment and will support the brothers’ practical needs, making a real difference to these amazing little boys in their fight against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
The money will enable the brothers to go to the US for treatment in October as well as help fund other future trips.
Around Noon is encouraging local people to create a team of 10 people, asking each person to raise £100 each, with the aim of having 25 teams, therefore raising £25,000.
If there is anyone who would like to also register on the day, please register at 8.30am at the starting point and a £20 registration fee payable.
Gareth Chambers, CEO of Around Noon said: “Brody and Cooper’s Aunt, Mary McMahon, is one of our team at Around Noon and has taken on responsibility for fundraising for the campaign to support Brody and Cooper’s parents and to help the boys get the treatment they need.
“We really wanted to support Mary and also to contribute to the boys’ treatment, so we have organised the walk to raise funds, and we’re encouraging our own team, family and friends, and also other members of the community to get involved. It’s an incredibly important cause and we’d love to see the local community really getting behind it.”
For more information on Brody + Cooper, visit https://www.brodyandcooper.com/
Their story
It all began when Brody’s teacher noticed that he couldn’t get off the floor as quickly as the other children after story time. We took Brody to the doctor and after physio, tests, and a referral to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast and Guys and St Thomas Hospital in London, Brody was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Six weeks later, Brody’s brother, Cooper, also tested positive for the same incurable disease.
Our lives were changed forever. We know this illness has the potential to end the lives of Brody and Cooper in their childhood.
The family circle communicated with other parents of children with Duchenne about researching experimental treatments and enrolled Brody in a study trial in USA, in the hope of being able to stave off the effects of the disease.
Brody and Cooper’s own fight against DMD then began.
The treatment made such a positive difference to Brody that we registered Cooper for the same research and returned to the US with both boys at the start of this year so they could each receive infusions.
