Dear Friends,
Many of you are familiar with my story. I’ve been humbled by your compassion and generosity as you’ve contributed over the years to research that will someday provide a cure for Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD). After receiving my own diagnosis of LGMD at age 5, my family quickly grasped the hardships I could face. It is true that my condition is progressive, bringing new challenges and changes to my life almost daily. But what hasn’t changed is my strength in spirit and mind. Today I’m blessed to remain active, enjoying one of my greatest passions-riding Jackson at Misty Meadows.
On April 20, I completed my “Ride for Research” at Misty Meadows, bringing awareness to Muscular Dystrophy and raising funds for the Carolinas MD Research Endowment. Those supporting this cause will bring hope to many patients and their families battling Muscular Dystrophy. By Riding for Research, I am raising funds specifically for first-time clinical research trials aimed at finding a cure, which are the first steps involved in testing the safety and effectiveness of a drug on humans. Recent gifts made in connection with my ride benefited the Fourth International Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Research Conference, which took place earlier this month in Charlotte, NC. Each year this conference brings together experts from the McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research and research colleagues from across the globe to specifically address the latest clinical trials for LGMD.
Research is the first step towards improving treatments and finding cures for all who suffer from Muscular Dystrophy. Since 2008, fundraising efforts organized in my honor (an initiative called “Jeans, Genes, and Geniuses”) have raised over $400,000 for the Carolinas MD Research Endowment. Gifts to this endowment continue to advance research and treatment at the McColl Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research at Carolinas Medical Center, one of the leading facilities in the world dedicated to finding a cure for LGMD. Thank you to all who have chosen to support the research that is so critical to finding a cure and bringing hope for all who battle Limb Girdle and related Muscular Dystrophies.
Sincerely,
Jane B. Lockwood
Pictured (L-R): Mike Rucker, Harry Swimmer, Owen Farr (front), Hugh McColl, Tony Blaeser, PhD., and Jane McColl.