AFL asked to donate fine to muscular dystrophy

Muscular Dystrophy Australia is sending a personal letter to AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou to urge him to make a donation to Muscular Dystrophy Australia from the $2 million fine lodged against Essendon Football Club for the misuse of banned substances, some of which were associated with Muscular Dystrophy.

We are writing to the AFLs Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Demetriou, to implore him to make a donation to Muscular Dystrophy Australia to support vital care and research needed for the community which has been dragged into this ordeal, said Muscular Dystrophy Australia Executive Director, Boris M Struk.

An identical letter is also being sent to AFL Chairman Mike Fitzpatrick.

We hope that the AFL Board takes our request seriously and realises that there can be a great deal of good that can be achieved in light of recent events, said Mr Struk.

Muscular Dystrophy is a term used for more than 60 neuromuscular disorders and it is defined as a progressive muscle destroying disorder which wastes all muscles away causing immobility, respiratory problems and cardiac complications. This is a condition which affects 1 in 1,000 Australians and 82 per cent of children aged 0-14 years with MD are boys.

Football is an absolute institution for many Australians and especially young boys, which are the group most affected by MD. Many people with MD have to use an electric wheelchair for mobility and often dont get the chance to play footy, therefore they idolise the AFL stars out there on the field, said Mr Struk.

In essence a donation made from the $2 million fine will be a drop in the ocean for the Australian Football League (AFL) but in our community, the MD community, it would mean the world of difference knowing that money will be going towards care and finding a cure for this life-threatening condition, said Mr Struk.

Excerpt from the letter:

I write to you on behalf of my son Ryan who is 34-years-old and has Muscular Dystrophy (MD), as well as the wider MD community. I implore you to consider making a donation to Muscular Dystrophy Australia of either all or some of the $2 million fine incurred by the Essendon Football Club over the misuse of peptides and other substances.

We at Muscular Dystrophy Australia have been inundated with calls from people in our community asking why treatment drugs for Muscular Dystrophy were potentially used by Essendon players. While the specific substance is unknown, the backlash and attention this has received, regardless of the individual substance, is why I write to you today

Read more:
AFL asked to donate fine to muscular dystrophy