<div>Hi, all! My name is Zoë Garvey and this fall I am joining a crew of amazing people on a trek to the Mount Everest Base Camp as we raise funds to support research on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). DMD is a fatal condition that predominantly affects boys. There is no cure for DMD but the research towards one is promising. This fundraiser supports Hope for Gus, a non profit organization founded by Souhegan High School teacher, Steve Dreher, and his wife, Tonya Dreher. Hope for Gus was created to raise funds for DMD in hopes to find a cure for their son, Gus, and everyone living with DMD. The money raised by this fundraiser will go directly to Hope for Gus (it will not be used to fund the trek). If you would like to support my efforts to change the lives of those with DMD, please consider donating or sharing this GoFundMe :) 
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<div>I have included tons of info on DMD and why this cause is close to my heart. If you have the time, please check out the sections below.  Thank you in advance for your support!
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<div>About DMD:
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<div>Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a progressive, muscle-wasting disorder that affects every muscle in the body. DMD is a recessive genetic mutation that occurs on the X chromosome. As a result, it almost exclusively affects boys. Unfortunately for the boys who have been diagnosed with DMD, it is the most severe of all the muscular dystrophies:
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<div>• Boys with this disease are diagnosed early, usually between 3 and 5 years of age.
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<div>• They lose muscle function quickly; many boys are in wheelchairs by age 10-12.
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<div>• They die early, most boys with DMD do not live to their mid-20’s
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<div>Boys with DMD are unable to produce a functional dystrophin protein. Because they lack this protein, they first lose their skeletal muscle function, and then they lose their smooth muscle function (smooth muscles include the heart and diaphram).
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<div>Duchenne is currently 100% fatal. There is no cure and no truly effective treatment. Occasionally, a young man with DMD may live into his early thirties, but he will be in a wheelchair, he will need assistance breathing and he will live with the constant risk of heart failure.
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<div>There is no cure for Duchenne, but there is HOPE. Research is promising, but funds are needed to get drugs into trial and time is not on our side. Our mission for Everest to End to Duchenne is to not only raise money that will go directly to medical research, but to raise awareness of the severity of this disease. We will trek to Everest for these boys who cannot.
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<div>About Me:
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<div>The fight to end Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy has been part of my life since I started high school. A beloved teacher at my alma mater, Souhegan High School, has a son with DMD. Steve Dreher and his wife, Tonya, shared the story of their son, Gus, and the entire Souhegan community rallied around them. I participated in the planning of multiple “Hope for Gus” fundraisers during my time on Souhegan’s Ethics Forum, and just like many Souhegan alumni, Gus and the Drehers have remained in a special place in my heart. As a community we watched how heartbreakingly fast DMD affected Gus, and no family should have to go through what the Drehers deal with. The funds from this trek will provide hope for the future of DMD treatment and provide peace of mind to those who are affected by it.
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<div>I know from experience how important it is to invest in research towards rare diseases, with my sister having Cystic Fibrosis and being on a life changing drug that was directly made possible through fundraising efforts. 
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<div>Enhancing the quality of life for anyone with DMD will not only impact those living with DMD also for the people who love and care for them.
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<div>With all of this in mind, I am so excited to have the opportunity to continue my fundraising from high school into this trip. Thank you so much for your support. I cannot wait for this trek and to update all of you on the training that’s to come! Please reach out if you have any questions about DMD, Hope for Gus, or Everest to End Duchenne :)
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<div>More info:
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<div><a href="https://everesttoendduchenne.org" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://everesttoendduchenne.org</a> 
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<div><a href="https://hopeforgus.org" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://hopeforgus.org</a> 
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<div>*I want to emphasize that all donations to this GoFundMe will go to Hope for Gus - none of the funds will be used to pay for flights or trekking costs!!!
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<div>**This trip would not be possible without the expertise from the local Nepalese and Sherpa communities. Everest to End Duchenne acknowledges the importance of ethical tourism to Everest and ensures that all parties involved are treated ethically and compensated fairly.
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Niamh Russell

Kaitlin Walker

Molly Kraus

Gabby Noble

Roberts Family

Hannah Shortle

Paula Garvey

Amy Tetreault

Phillipa Carney

Frank Shortle

Anonymous

Mel Kraus

Bill and Marge Curry

Ben Biskovich

Sinead Turvey

O’Connor Family

Ella Garvey

Everest to End Duchenne 2023

Everest to End Duchenne 2023

Still $1,820 to go. Help us build momentum.