On World Duchenne Awareness Day, Winners of 2017 STRIVE Awards Announced

PTC Therapeutics recently announced the recipients of the 2017 global Strategies to Realize Innovation, Vision and Empowerment (STRIVE) Awards program, recognizing excellence and innovation in the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) community.

The 2017 awards were on World Duchenne Awareness Day, on Sept. 7.

The STRIVE program was launched in 2015 to support nonprofit organizations and initiatives aiming to benefit the DMD community by increasing awareness, diagnosis and education, as well as fostering the development of future patient advocates.

“This year’s STRIVE for DMD winners all submitted innovative, creative and passionate project proposals that aspire to enhancing the experiences of the Duchenne community. We are pleased to be able to provide these organizations with support to bring these brilliant projects to life,” Stuart W. Peltz, PhD, chief executive officer of PTC Therapeutics, said in a press release.

The STRIVE awards panel received submissions by 32 organizations worldwide. Each of the winning organizations will receive a grant to realize their proposed project. Entries were assessed by an independent expert panel for innovation, vision and empowerment.

Five organizations from three countries (and continents) were awarded, specifically:

Two organizations from Brazil:

• Associação Baiana de Distrofia Muscular (ABDM) – seeking to launch a media campaign called “CPK para Alertar!” (CPK to Alert!) aiming to encourage parents and doctors to support early diagnosis of DMD via creatine phosphokinase (CPK) tests.
• Associação dos Familiares, Amigos e Portadores de Doenças Graves (AFAG) – seeking to run a “National DMD Seminar Circuit” to share the latest advancements on treatments for DMD to empower patients and their caregivers, as well as healthcare professionals.

One organization from the Netherlands:

• United Parent Projects Muscular Dystrophy Data Foundation – seeking to launch a digital platform to encourage patient identification, interactions and communication between DMD patients and healthcare professionals, researchers and patient organizations in Europe.

Two organizations from the United States:

• Beauhawks Foundation – running “Dancing for Duchenne,” a school outreach program to promote awareness, acceptance and inclusion of those living with DMD.
• Greg Marzolf Jr. Foundation – seeking to create a DMD community cookbook that will feature recipes and personal stories from patients and their families, with the goal of promoting healthy eating habits among the DMD community and raise awareness.

Judging panelists praised the high standard of submissions. “There were some very inventive and collaborative proposals this year. These awards have provided a meaningful way for organizations throughout the world to implement innovative programs,” said Kari Luther Rosbeck.

“The enthusiasm and commitment of the non-profit organizations who entered the STRIVE for DMD 2017 awards was astounding,” added Mary Frances Harmon, vice president of corporate relations at PTC Therapeutics.