Joining Jude in his Journey to Defeat Duchenne

I am a mother to a nine-year-old boy named Jude who lives with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare, debilitating, and terminal disease. In Jude’s favourite song lives the line “take a sad song and make it better”. We aim to do just that. In 2019, my best friend Maggie Aynsley and I launched the MASH movement, utilizing our experience in education, healthcare and fitness to influence change in the arena of rare diseases by hosting charity events that help support those affected with Duchenne. MASH stands for Movement, Awareness, Service and Health. These core values are the foundation and purpose of our social platform and fundraising efforts. We aim to help families like ours who are facing the progressive deterioration and fatality of their child each day “live in the movement” of life. Beyond a cure, boys like Jude need a world that is accessible, inclusive and free from unnecessary hardship. We want to establish a means of giving that is supportive and sustainable. Every day these children lose muscle while Duchenne marches on. The time for change is now.

Those who support this initiative will be helping ease the undue suffering experienced by children and their families who live with this fatal diagnosis. Beyond the devastating thought of outliving your child, is the hardship of not being able to provide the best quality of life for them with each day you have. Families journeying with Duchenne struggle with the financial burdens of travelling for medical appointments, physiotherapy, counselling, renovating their homes, obtaining accessible vehicles as well as access to supportive devices and treatments. Because Duchenne is a rare disease, it is far more challenging to find the investment in treatment development and psychosocial support. Donors remind us that there is hope and that we are not alone. They gift boys like Jude the opportunity for a better life story.

We appreciate your consideration in helping our cause. Our family has experienced firsthand the positive impacts of compassion from friends, family and people whose faces we have never met. Hope is born from the caring of others. Your support, in any capacity, truly means the world to us.

For more information, please feel free to connect with us directly via the contacts below.

Kindly,

Kasha & Maggie

www.themashmovement.com