STRATFORD Rugby Club is doing everything it can to try and help raise awareness of Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
The rare inherited neuromuscular condition, which is caused by deterioration in the nerve cells connecting the brain and spinal cord to the body’s muscles, typically affects babies and young children.
As the link between the nerves and muscles breaks down, the muscles used for activities such as crawling, walking, sitting up and moving the head become progressively weaker and shrink.
The SMA Trust and Spinal Muscular Atrophy Support UK have already teamed up to make people more knowledgeable about the condition.
And as the Rugby World Cup coincides with SMA Awareness Week, Stratford Rugby Club has agreed to play its part by supporting a social media campaign on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #tacklesma.
SMA Support UK Managing Director, Doug Henderson said: “One in 40 to 60 of us carry the gene that causes SMA, and yet it remains a relatively unknown condition.
“We are very pleased to be working with The SMA Trust during SMA Awareness Week and hope we can make a real difference in improving our local community’s knowledge of Spinal Muscular Atrophy.”
The SMA Trust CEO, Joanna Mitchell said: “Joining forces with SMA Support UK to launch the very first UK SMA Awareness Week will increase understanding of SMA and we’re grateful to Stratford RFC for helping us to spread the word locally.”
