WE REACHED OUR GOAL OF $20,000!! THANKS YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT. WE NEED TO FIND A CURE FOR DUCHENNE AND ALAN JR.

PLEASE GO TO A NEW SUPPORT SITE MADE BY MY UNCLE BOBBY

http://mdcircle.ning.com/

ALAN, MICHELLE, ALAN JR & REBECCA ON THE JERRY LEWIS TELETHON THIS PAST LABOR DAY GIVING A BIG CHECK!!!

MOVE MOUSE OVER BOX TO VIEW THE VIDEO

PLEASE HELP IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY BY DONATING TO PARENT PROJECT MD.

THIS DISEASE EFFECTS 1 IN EVERY 3500 BOYS.

THEY ARE IN A WHEELCHAIR BY AGE 12.

THEY START TO HAVE RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS BY THEIR MID TEENS.

THEY WILL SUCCUMB TO THIS DISEASE BY THEIR EARLY 20'S

YOU CAN FIND MORE INFO FROM PARENT PROJECT MD BY CLICKING THEIR LINK BELOW.

DONATIONS

CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS FOR THE MARATHON DONATIONS CAN BE MADE OUT TO "PARENT PROJECT MD". PLEASE PUT "TEAM BODTMANN" IN THE MEMO FIELD. THEY CAN BE MAILED TO EITHER ADDRESS BELOW:

TEAM BODTMANN
512 AMSTERDAM AVE
ROSELLE PARK, NJ
07204-1113

OR

PARENT PROJECT MD
RUN FOR OUR SONS MARATHON
158 LINWOOD PLAZA, SUITE 220
FORT LEE, NJ 07024

YOU CAN ALSO DONATE TO THE "ALAN JR FUND" BY SENDING A CHECK TO "ALAN BODTMANN" AT THE TEAM BODTMANN ADDRESS ABOVE

PICTURES FROM THE BODTMANN & BUTTELL FAMILY GET TOGETHER  AT "THE CUP"

BRO'S WOODY & ALAN

AUNT GABBY, ALAN JR'S DAD & MOM

POP'S & GRAM'S

AUNT MICHELLE & AUNT GABBY

PICTURES FROM LAST YEARS MARATHON

TEAM BODTMANN AT THE PPMD RACE PARTY IN EPCOT

AUNT MICHELLE & UNCLE WOODY

TEAM BODTMANN & TEAM DANNY PRIOR TO THE 1/2 MARATHON

UNCLE WOODY, ALAN SR & ROB

UNCLE WOODY & AUNT MICHELLE

HEATHER, AUNT MICHELLE, AUNT GABBY & MOM MICHELLE

AUNT GABBY, MOM MICHELLE & AUNT MICHELLE

UNCLE WOODY

XLII CHAMPS!!!

ALAN BODTMANN JR HAS DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY - DMD

THERE IS NO CURE!!!

TEAM BODTMANN UPDATE!!

TEAM BODTMANN 2008

TEAM BODTMANN HAS RAISED:

$20,438 AS OF FRIDAY 2/08/08

TEAM BODTMANN WILL BE COMPETING IN THE WALT DISNEY WORLD 1/2 MARATHON TO RAISE AWARENESS AND MONEY FOR DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY AND PARENT PROJECT MD. YOU CAN DONATE TO OUR TEAM OR ANY INDIVIDUAL BY CLICKING THE "TEAM BODTMANN" BUTTON BELOW.

TEAM BODTMANN 2008

WALKING / RUNNING IN THE 2008 DISNEY 1/2 MARATHON

ALAN SR & MICHELLE - ALAN JR'S MOM & DAD

UNCLE WOODY & AUNT MICHELLE

AUNT GABBY

AUNT NOEL

HEATHER & ROB

ERNIE

SPIRIT RUNNERS

GRAM & POPS BODTMANN

PICTURES FROM THIS  YEARS MARATHON

BIG AL AFTER FINISHING

ALAN JR, UNCLE WOODY & ERNIE AFTER THE FINISH

AUNT GABBY AT THE FINISH

AUNT NOELLE, MOM MICHELLE, DAD ALAN & AUNT GABBY BEFORE THE START

SPIRIT RUNNER POP-POP'S BEFORE THE START

ALAN JR, GRANDMA & MEGS BEFORE THE START

BIG AL DURING THE RACE

ERNIE & UNCLE WOODY AT THE START OF THE RACE

UNCLE WOODY BEFORE THE RACE

UNCLE WOODY AT THE FINISH

ERNIE AT THE FINISH

 MICHELLE MILE 7

AUNT MICHELLE & JEN

AUNT NOELLE & AUNT GABBY

HEATHER & ROB AFTER THE FINISH

UNCLE WOODY & AUNT MIHELLE

ALAN JR WITH HIS BUDDIES!

ALAN JR IS NOW 7 YEARS OLD. HE WAS DIAGNOSED WHEN HE WAS 5 YEARS OLD. HIS FAMILY AND LOVED ONES ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO HELP FIGHT THIS DISEASE AND FIND A CURE.

PLEASE HELP US IN ANY WAY THAT YOU CAN!!!!!

WHAT IS DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY?

"Muscular Dystrophy" is a broad term used to label gene-related disorders that affect muscles throughout the body. There are more than 20 specific genetic disorders considered to be Muscular Dystrophy. Most have the same result (a reduction in muscle strength due to weakening and deterioration) but these various types of Muscular Dystrophies are specific to different muscles in the body and different rates of degeneration.

All forms of Muscular Dystrophy are considered rare, but Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is perhaps the most common of the Muscular Dystrophies in existence. Since it was first identified in the 1860's, DMD affects approximately 1 boy in every 3,000. Another type of Muscular Dystrophy is associated with DMD: Becker Muscular Dystrophy. Since its first diagnosis in the 1950's, Becker MD occurs in about 1 in 18,000 births and is considered to be a less severe form of DMD.

WHO GETS DUCHENNE?

DMD is not specific to any one group. All ethnic groups are equally susceptible to both Duchenne and Becker MD. But what often sets these two Muscular Dystrophies apart is that they occur mainly in young men (with very few exceptions), making it a sex-linked disorder.

Because young men have one X-chromosome and one Y-chromosome, and girls have two X-chromosomes, young men are always at a greater risk of inheriting disorders caused by damaged genes on the X-chromosome. To put it simply, if something is wrong with a gene on a boy's X-chromosome, his body has no other way to recreate a fully functional version of that damaged gene. Girls are fortunate to have an "extra" X-chromosome to fall back on if one of their genes are damaged.
 

WHAT CAUSES DUCHENNE?

Within our gene makeup, there is an important muscle protein called 'dystrophin' which is one of the largest genes found to date. Dystrophin acts as the glue that holds muscles together by maintaining the structure of muscle cells. Dystrophin is also believed to carry signals between the inside and outside of muscle fibers. Without dystrophin, muscles are not able to operate properly and will eventually suffer progressive damage.

The dystrophin gene is carried on the X-chromosome. Young men are therefore more susceptible to dystrophin damage because they have only one X-chromosome. When a boy is diagnosed with DMD, his body is not able to produce any dystrophin. In Becker MD, a distorted, over-sized version of dystrophin is generated. In either disorder, muscle cells within the body gradually weaken and eventually die, without fully functional dystrophin.

PREVENTION

There is no way to stop DMD from progressing once a boy is born with the disorder. However once a child with DMD is born into a family, it is possible to offer prenatal diagnosis in future pregnancies, either for the mother or for other women in her family who may be at risk of being carriers of the damaged X-chromosome.

PROGRESSION OF DMD

Early Phase (diagnosis through age 7)

Once a boy is diagnosed with DMD, it is often quite difficult to accept or believe that there is anything wrong with him. The onset of physical symptoms may be tough to recognize. Often times he will appear to be improving on the outside while his muscles are deteriorating on the inside. It is during this early phase that the calves may seem overdeveloped. He may appear clumsy and fall a lot. Jumping from a standing position may become near impossible.

Transitional Phase (6-12 years)

Between the ages of 6 and 12, DMD has usually been diagnosed. The child will likely have trouble walking, mostly because his quadriceps (muscles in the front of the thighs) have grown weaker. This tends to keep him off balance as he attempts to shift his weight and walk. He may walk on the balls of his feet or on his toes with a slight, rolling gait. In order to compensate for a feeling of falling forward, young men with DMD will stick their bellies out and throw their shoulders back to keep their balance as they walk.

When asked to get up off of the floor, he will often put his rear end up in the air first and then "walk" his arms up his legs with his hands until he is standing; using his arms for supports. The medical term for this is 'Gowers' Maneuver.'

Loss of ambulation (8-14 years)

By about 12 years old, he will likely need a wheelchair for at least part of the time as mobility becomes more difficult. His weakened muscles will cause him to tire easily. In most cases teen years are when the most significant loss of skeletal muscle strength takes place. It is at this point that activities involving the arms, legs, or trunk of the body will require assistance or mechanical support. Most young men will retain the use of their fingers through this phase so they can generally still write and use a computer.

Adult Stage (15+ years)

During the teen years, in addition to skeletal muscle problems, young men with DMD will often develop heart muscle problems. Heart complications become the main threat to both health and life due to damage and loss of respiratory muscle. The muscle layer of the heart (called 'myocardium') begins to deteriorate, much like the skeletal muscles do. This puts the young men at risk of a heart attack. Major symptoms of myocardium include: shortness of breath, fluid in the lungs, or swelling in the feet and lower legs (caused by fluid retention).

When symptoms of DMD are managed conventionally, young men with the disorder usually die from respiratory failure before they turn 25. It has been estimated that anywhere from 9% to 50% of those with DMD die from cardiac failure.

PICTURES

2007 WDW 1/2 MARATHON AS WELL AS PICTURES FROM BEFORE AND AFTER THE RACE AND OUR WEEKEND IN DISNEY. ALSO PICTURES FROM THE BODTMANN & BUTTELL FAMILY GET TOGETHER FOR ALAN JR HELD AT "THE CUP" IN JUNE 2007 WITH THE BAND "1.21 GIGAWATTS"

 PICTURES DURING THE WDW 2007 HALF MARATHON OF TEAM BODTMANN

2008 WALT DISNEY WORLD 1/2 MARATHON AND DISNEY PICS!!!

UNCLE WOODY & ARTIE LANGE @ NEWARK AIRPORT

WEB SITE CREATED BY UNCLE WOODY*

UPDATED 06/05/2008