WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the leading U.S. non-profit driving Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy care, research, and advocacy efforts, is joining the global Duchenne and Becker community to recognize World Duchenne Awareness Day on September 7th. This global initiative, spearheaded by the World Duchenne Organization, aims to raise awareness about Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy and has gained historic significance with the United Nations’ official recognition of the day.

Access Changes Lives

This year’s World Duchenne Awareness Day theme, Access Changes Lives, highlights the critical importance of ensuring that every person living with Duchenne and Becker can access the care, information, therapies, resources, and support they need.

For the Duchenne and Becker community, access means having trusted information, knowledgeable care, appropriate therapies and equipment, clinical trial and drug development opportunities, resources that improve quality of life, and a community that understands. PPMD works every day to make that access possible through resources and education that help families, healthcare professionals, and the broader community navigate diagnosis, standards of care, emergency preparedness, therapies, clinical trials, insurance and coverage, everyday life, and other critical aspects of living with Duchenne and Becker.

“Access can change the trajectory of a person’s life,” said Katherine Beaverson, PPMD’s Chief Executive Officer. “For the Duchenne and Becker community, access means having the information to make informed decisions, a community to connect with, the care needed to support health and independence, and the opportunity to benefit from scientific progress. PPMD is committed to breaking down barriers so that access is not determined by where someone lives, what resources they have, or whether they know where to turn.”

PPMD is inviting members of the community to share what “access” means to them throughout September, highlighting the many ways access to care, information, resources, and community can make a difference to improve quality of life

Bad Shirt Friday Returns for Second Year

World Duchenne Awareness Day activities kick off today with the second annual Bad Shirt Friday. Following last year’s inaugural event, families, friends, and allies are invited to break out their most outrageous shirts to raise awareness and celebrate the spirit of the Duchenne and Becker community. Participants are encouraged to share their photos on social media using #BadShirtFriday, amplify stories, and consider making a donation in support of the community and PPMD’s mission. The Bad Shirt Friday Workplace Challenge offers companies a chance to participate by creating a fundraising page, encouraging employees and co-workers to wear their worst shirts in exchange for a donation to support PPMD, and sharing on social media.

“This year, as we approach World Duchenne Awareness Day on September 7th and its theme, Access Changes Lives, Bad Shirt Friday is a reminder that raising awareness can be both meaningful and fun,” said Pat Furlong, PPMD’s Founding President. “When people wear their worst shirts, they create an opportunity to talk about Duchenne and Becker—and about what it takes to ensure that every person affected has access to what they need.”

World Duchenne Awareness Day Activation Guide & Resources for Families

To help individuals and families gear up for World Duchenne Awareness Day, PPMD has created a Family Activation Guide. This toolkit is filled with ready-to-use social media graphics, sample posts and captions, activities, and ideas to help families share their stories, spark awareness, and uplift the Duchenne and Becker community online and in their communities.

If you would like to access the Family Activation Guide or other World Duchenne Awareness Day resources, including details on how you can participate, please visit PPMD’s website.

About Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy

Duchenne is a genetic disorder that slowly robs people of their muscle strength. Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) fights every single battle necessary to end Duchenne.

We demand optimal care standards and ensure every family has access to expert healthcare providers, cutting edge treatments, and a community of support. We invest deeply in treatments for this generation of Duchenne patients and in research that will benefit future generations. Our advocacy efforts have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in funding and won eight FDA approvals.

Everything we do—and everything we have done since our founding in 1994—helps those with Duchenne live longer, stronger lives. We will not rest until we end Duchenne for every single person affected by the disease. Join our fight against Duchenne at EndDuchenne.org. Follow PPMD on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

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SOURCE Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD)