Ten years ago, Sophie Hutchison was diagnosed with limb girdle muscular dystrophy 2i (LGMD2i). A decade later, she is getting ready to take on Zip Slide the Clyde with eight friends and family members. Sophie explains why she wants to raise awareness of muscle wasting conditions while fundraising to help find a cure.
Family and friends Zip Slide the Clyde to raise awareness and funds
I was 13 when I was diagnosed with limb girdle muscular dystrophy. Since then, I’ve been dedicated to raising funds to make a meaningful impact on the lives of everyone living with a muscle wasting condition.
My condition means that I walk and run slower than everyone else and struggle with going up and down stairs. Everyday simple things like rising from a seated position and picking things up from the floor are difficult. It’s an unrelenting disease that gets progressively worse. By fundraising for Muscular Dystrophy UK, I know that I’m doing something to help so that the charity can continue supporting those living with muscle wasting conditions as well as funding research into treatments and hopefully a cure.
In 2018, I took part in the Glasgow Kiltwalk for Muscular Dystrophy UK and family members have continued to do challenges on my behalf over the years. For Zip Slide the Clyde, I’ll be joined by my mum Gail, dad Stuart, sister Hollie and Uncle Gary, as well as family friend Stewart Davis, and three close friends, Heather Neill, Vic Sutherland and Morgan Fehlberg. As a team, we’ve already raised over double our original £2,000 fundraising target and hope to raise as much as possible for Muscular Dystrophy UK.
But it’s not just about the money, I also want to increase awareness. Living with a rare condition comes with its challenges and one of those is that most people don’t understand it as it’s still not a widely known disease. My family and friends only know about muscular dystrophy because of my diagnosis, so I want to try to change that.
I decided to do Zipslide the Clyde as it’s a challenge I can do with friends and family. It’s something a bit different and means I can get more people involved. I’m sure we’ll all be nervous on the day when we’re 100ft up in the air over the River Clyde, but everyone seems happy with the idea of the challenge. Some are afraid of heights, but I’m sure they’ll be fine on the day!
Follow Sophie and her team’s fundraising journey here.
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