One thing I discovered while doing research for UnConventional was how few people knew what Becker’s Muscular Dystrophy was (or had even heard of it). In fact, it’s one reason I decided to go with that disease while I was planning out the book. If I could do my small part to increase awareness of MD and BMD in particular, and in the process show that men with these diseases are still men who deserve to live happy lives full of love and sex, then why not?
October 5-11 is officially Becker’s Muscular Dystrophy Awareness Week, and it happens to coincide perfectly with the release of UnConventional on October 14! So take the time to check out the campaign’s Facebook page (or site if you don’t do Facebook), along with some great resources maintained by men with the disease, including Brad Miller of My Becker’s Story, and educate yourself! Maybe even pop over to MDA.org (or the organization in your country of choice) and donate to help fund programs for people with neuromuscular disease and research toward treatments and cures.
You can also help spread the word on Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #BMDawarenessweek!
What is Becker Muscular Dystrophy? Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD) is a rare genetic condition affecting males for which there is currently no cure. It causes slowly progressive muscle weakness that may be apparent from childhood and leads to difficulties in walking, running, standing, getting up from a low position, climbing steps and stairs. Other issues may include frequent falls and fatigue. Children with BMD may be late walkers or walk on tiptoes. Typically a boy with BMD will struggle with physical sports at school and may experience muscle cramps and will have enlarged calf muscles. The progression of BMD is highly variable with symptoms mild in some cases and more severe in others. Some muscles become weak and wasted with leg muscles affected first and later shoulders and upper arms. Eventually men with BMD will lose the ability to walk and will require the use of a wheelchair. This could happen anytime between their 20’s and 50’s or in some cases even later. Some may have heart problems and issues with breathing muscles in the long term.
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