Acceleron's ACE-031 protein therapeutic for DMD receives FDA Fast Track designation

Acceleron's ACE-031 protein therapeutic for DMD receives FDA Fast Track designation: "Acceleron Pharma, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics that modulate the growth of cells and tissues including muscle, bone, fat, red blood cells and the vasculature, today announced it received FDA Fast Track designation for ACE-031 for the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a fatal neuromuscular disease in which patients suffer from the progressive loss of muscle mass and strength. ACE-031 is an investigational protein therapeutic being developed to increase muscle mass and strength."

Rachel McLean - still on top of the world!

Definitive Highland Dancing Resource - toeandheel.com: "On Saturday Rachel danced an astonishing Fling on top of Ben Nevis.

Amazing enough to have the energy to climb the mountain, never mind getting changed whilst exposed to the elements and then dancing on a wet, slippery, cold stone slab, at the edge of a precipice, in 50 mph winds, in the cold, damp & wet conditions, in near nil visibility . . . .

Rachel is certainly still on top of the World."

Rachel's Fling on Ben nevis

Rachel's McLean's astonishing Fling on the top of Ben Nevis.

Rachel's aunt (Catriona) was there and said

'Rachel was a wee star on Sat although my heart was in my mouth as the winds were quite bad ( 50 mile an hour reported!) and I was just waiting for her to blown off!! She was getting dangerously near the edge a couple of times, probably my shrieks didn't help!'

What an astonishing Fling!

Australia's Fling for Logan - email from MD Queensland

I have copied below an email to Margaret Johnston (the organiser of the Australian Fling for Logan) from Rick Carr of Muscular Dystrophy Queensland.

Hello Margaret,

It was so nice to meet you and the rest of the committee at the meeting last night.  Thank you so much for your kindness, and generosity.

We are preparing the receipt for your donation, would you be able to provide me with the postal address of your organisation so we can forward this to you?

Logan’s story will stick in my mind, as will the sight of those 412 dancers doing the Highland Fling!

Warm Regards,

Rick Carr

CEO

Muscular Dystrophy Queensland

Congratulations Rachel

Just got a text from Rachel - she got to the top of Ben Nevis and completed her Fling.

The weather was terrible and she had no signal at the top and so had to wait until half way back down to text me.

She has the fling on video - I will upload it later this week.

Congratulations again and many thanks.

Gareth

Denver Mayor proclaims June 26 "End Duchenne Day"

Middletown, OH – June 18, 2009 – 

Patricia A. Furlong, Founding President and CEO ofParent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the largest non-profit organization in the United States focused on finding a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne), announced that the Mayor of Denver, Colorado, John W. Hickenlooper, has proclaimed June 26, 2010 “End Duchenne Day” in recognition of PPMD’s 16th Annual Connect Conference. Denver is playing host to the country’s largest Duchenne-specific, international conference, June 24 – 27, 2010.

Rachel's Fling on Ben Nevis

On July 17 this year Rachel McLean will be attempting to carry out a sponsored Fling for Logan challenge.

Aiming high is nothing new for Rachel. A relatively late starter to Highland Dancing she rapidly progressed through the ranks to reach the peak in 2004 when she was crowned World Highland Dancing Champion.

However, this challenge will see Rachel climb to new heights - she has decided to climb Scotland's Highest Mountain - Ben Nevis - and plans to perform her Highland Fling on the summit!

Not content with miles to treck and hill to climb - she will need to carry her music and kilt outfit to the top with her.

You can follow Rachel's progess on the blog and sponsor her on the sponsor page.