Submitted by Mike Grenville on Tue, 27 Apr 2004 15:52

To help raise funds for The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign “Muscles for Muscles Week” is encouraging people to exercise their thumbs.

Running from 3rd to 10th May in the UK, this year’s Muscles for Muscles Week has support from Esendex who are providing the SMS technology and strong backing from Somerfield, which has selected the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign as its Charity of the Year 2003 ¬– 2004 and is aiming to raise £1.2million for the Charity.

Muscular Dystrophy Campaign director of corporate affairs Joe Korner said: “The idea of Muscles for Muscles Week is to use your muscles for those with less muscle power. So whether it’s using your thumbs to make an SMS donation or winking at a stranger, we want to raise awareness of ways we can all help stick our tongues out at the barriers faced by those with muscular dystrophy.”

Using Esendex SMS, donations can be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign by texting the word ‘muscle’ to 80806 (texts cost £1.50 and at least 85p goes to the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign).

The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign covers 60 muscle wasting conditions all of which cause the muscles to gradually and relentlessly get weaker. Someone with a severe form of the condition will have a very short life expectancy.

Joe Korner continued: “Muscular dystrophy does not discriminate. It affects men and women, babies, children and adults of all races. Currently there is no cure.

“Some people with muscular dystrophy can’t do the things that others take for granted, like switching on a light or holding a cup of tea. That’s why the information and support we provide is so vital, and why we invest in research into possible treatments and cures”

www.muscular-dystrophy.org.uk

www.esendex.com