The Molecular Diagnostics, Counselling, Care and Research Centre (MDCRC) celebrated the World Duchenne Awareness Day along with children from Ooty, Mettupalayam, Dharmapuri, Trichy, and Tirupur, who suffer from the disorder. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) are rare disorders and medical science hasn’t found a cure for them.

Every year, MDCRC celebrates the World Duchenne Awareness Day with these kids. This year, the centre had organized a fun-filled evening for the children who suffer from these two genetic disorders, at the Jennys Club Lawn. 36 children participated in the event this time. The celebrations included a magic show put up by Raja from Bhavani, and a balloon show. The children were allowed to release the balloons in air.

In one corner of the lawn was Nagalakshmi from Coimbatore who made fantastic shapes with balloons for the kids. “I’m happy to be among these kids. Today I’m thankful that through my art I was able to bring a smile on these kids’ faces,” Nagalakshmi said. Balloon swords were extremely popular among these kids, who were fighting a different battle in real life.

It was however the car race competition that the kids simply adored. A track was set up at the venue. Each of the toy cars had the name of the child stuck on to it. In batches of three, the cars were allowed to race down the toy track. At the end of the preliminary rounds and the grand finale, Kavin, Ravi Shankar, and S. Shivshankar were declared the winners. Plenty of refreshments were served to the kids.

The special guests who were present all through the evening had very important messages to convey to the public. “Awareness about DMD and SMA has to spread and people have to work towards preventing these disorders,” Veena Pathy, well wisher of MDCRC, said. She feels that these kids need to be treated on par with other children. “The body may have limitations, but the mind has infinite powers,” Swarnalatha J., Managing Trustee, Swarga Foundation, Coimbatore said. Seconding her was 41-year-old entrepreneur, Suraj Kumar, who added, “I feel nice being among these kids today. It is very motivating.”

Also present were Padmashree Dr. P.R. Krishnakumarji M.D. of Aryaa Vaidya Pharmacy, Coimbatore; Dr. K.C. Ramasami, Chairman of Kurinji Hospital, Coimbatore; and Dr. Noorul, M.D. of Life Spring, Coimbatore.