SMU Coaches Join Fight Against Muscular Dystrophy

WACO, TEXAS (October 22, 2008) On Saturday, October 25, SMU Head Coach June Jones,
the entire Mustang coaching staff and college football coaches acrossthe country will join to fight one opponent - Duchenne MuscularDystrophy. By wearing an arm band with the Coach to Cure MD insignia,coaches will show their support for Coach to Cure MD, the AmericanFootball Coaches Association's (AFCA) newest charitable project.

"College football is a team game and all of us in the coachingprofession are asking football fans to help us defeat the DuchenneMuscular Dystrophy," said Grant Teaff, Executive Director of theAmerican Football Coaches Association.

Football fans will be able to donate to muscular dystrophy researcheither online at CoachToCureMD.org or by texting the word "CURE" to90999 to automatically donate $5 from their mobile phones.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is the most common fatal genetic disorderdiagnosed during childhood. Because the Duchenne gene is found on theX-chromosome, it primarily affects boys and occurs across all races andcultures.

Boys and young men with Duchenne lack dystrophin, a protein critical tothe structural stability of muscle fibers. Patients develop progressivemuscle weakness that eventually causes loss of mobility, wheelchairdependency and a decline in respiratory and cardiac function. Currently,there is no cure for Duchenne and limited therapeutic options exist.

The AFCA is joining with the Parent Project for Muscular Dystrophy(PPMD)to make Coach to Cure MD a reality and generate support forresearch using the nationwide, one-day, game-day event.

"College football coaches are dedicated to the betterment of young menand defeating Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy fits with our mission," Teaffsaid. "By focusing the eyes of the entire football world on MD for onecollege game day, we can raise awareness and funds for life-savingresearch and support the core academic missions of universities andcolleges."

"We take a comprehensive approach in the fight against Duchenne--fundingresearch, raising awareness, promoting advocacy, connecting thecommunity, and broadening treatment options," said Pat Furlong, foundingpresident and CEO of PPMD. "This project is totally aligned with ourgoals and we are excited about the Coach to Cure and the opportunitiesit presents."