NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State head football coach Brock Spack and his staff will join hundreds of college coaches around the country in the Coach To Cure MD program, when the Redbirds host Northern Iowa, Saturday, at Hancock Stadium.
Coach To Cure MD is a partnership between the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the largest national charity devoted exclusively to Duchenne (pronounced DOO-SHIN) muscular dystrophy. The goal of Coach To Cure MD is to raise awareness and generate new financial support for Duchenne research.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a progressive muscle disorder that causes loss of muscle function and dependence. One in approximately every 3,500 children is affected, and life expectancy for those individuals is only in the 20s. Research to find a cure is ongoing at many colleges.
"The AFCA has made it a mission for the organization and all of its members to support the program and help fund research and support for those affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy," Spack said. "This is a great cause and I don't think there is a college coach out there who does not support Coach To Cure MD and its mission to find a cure and make the lives of those affected better."
The Redbird coaching staff has participated in the program for the past seven seasons, and will wear Coach to Cure MD patches on the sideline during the contest. The team will also host 13-year-old Nicolas Gonzales of Oswego, Illinois, who is battling Duchenne muscular dystrophy and will serve as an honorary captain for the Redbirds.
"For the second-straight year, we have the honor of hosting a young man fighting this disease," Spack continued. "We are excited for Nicolas and his mother, Michelle, to join us for the game and for Nicolas to be an honorary captain and go out to the coin toss with our players. Nicolas has become one of the biggest Redbird football fans out there and we are touched by his enthusiasm and love for life. It will be great for us to continue this relationship with Nicolas and his family and make him a part of the Redbird football program for years to come."
Fans can make a $5 donation by texting the word "CURE" to 90999. Donations of any dollar amount can also be made online at CoachtoCureMD.org. Individuals wanting to support the cause are encouraged to spread the word on social media and use the hash tag #TackleDuchenne on Twitter.
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