The long fundraising road for debilitating disease cure

When it comes to fundraising for the charity, Save of Sons Duchenne Foundation, Michael Malak epitomises the legendary 1960s Lucky Starr song “I’ve been Everywhere”.

Michael Malak has walked more than 1500 kilometres to help find a cure for DMD.

In ten years, Michael has walked more than 1500 kilometres, to help the organisation raise more than $5 million for research and support.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is the most common muscle disease in childhood. Approximately, one in every 5,000 newborn boys have Duchenne.

Symptoms of Duchenne usually appear between ages two and five years and may include difficulty: running, jumping, climbing, and rising from the floor, frequent falls, enlarged calf muscles, toe walking and delays in language development.

Sadly, many boys are wheelchair bound at an early age, there is no cure, and many die in their 20s.

Michael said, ten years ago he was driven to help by a father, Eli Eid whose son was diagnosed with DMD.

“Eli’s passion and empathy and his drive to get a cure for DMD was so strong – I just had to get on board and help.”

He’s just completed the 10th anniversary walk around Melbourne and raised more than $10,000.

“We walk up to 36 kilometres a day and it can be quite a challenge, but when your muscles are sore, you just think about what the boys go through every day,” Michael said.

Sadly, Michael says this year’s walk was in memory of several boys who passed away in their 20s.

“I have had tremendous support, including from the PAYCE Foundation, over the past 10 years – hopefully there will be a breakthrough in research and treatment and children diagnosed can live a full life.”