Martin Hywood was diagnosed with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy in 1996, he had just started a new job in the motor industry and had also just met his now wife, Michelle. It was devastating news which was made even harder by having to change his occupation for his own health and welfare.
Hywood's Heroes
I chose to pursue a completely new career path because I wanted to understand what was happening within an industry where I believed I could witness change and hopefully make a difference to the lives of others. At the beginning of my journey, I worked in the pharmaceutical industry for over 10 years and thoroughly enjoyed it. I now work at Muscular Dystrophy UK, I receive tremendous support from my colleagues, which I greatly value.
In 2012, I launched the ‘Move a Mile for Muscles’ campaign with Muscular Dystrophy UK, and I became a proud ambassador for the movement. I shared my story of diagnosis and what it is like to live with the condition, and the response spread rapidly across social media.
My family and I walked a single mile and raised £1,000. Since then, I have built an incredible support network, produced a star-studded promotional film called ‘Muscles Matter’, taken part in numerous events, and helped raise more than £300,000 for vital world-class research.
Hywood’s Heroes was born from this journey. It is a group of selfless people who are willing to go above and beyond for others and are among the kindest people you could ever meet.
I continue to grow this ever-expanding team simply by talking to people and helping them understand how important it is to raise awareness of these rare conditions. I believe everyone should show compassion and selflessness, even if only for a short time in their lives.
My diagnosis was horrible. I was surrounded by my entire family, yet I felt like the loneliest person in the world. I felt useless and, after some time, realised that I had to do something about it. I hoped that what we do today would help others in the future avoid the pain that my family and I have experienced. That is what we will continue to do because this fantastic group of people just keeps growing. I have found something incredibly positive in what began as such a negative experience, and now I would not change a thing.
80% of fundraising will go to Muscular Dystrophy UK and 20% to the family’s welfare needs.
