For the last three years, Arrowhead math teacher Dale Destache and his family have been participating in the MDA Muscle Walk. Destache says the walk is a gathering to show people with Muscular Dystrophy (MD) that they are loved. It is a day for people who suffer daily to have fun with their friends and family.

“The focus of this day is not about a walk or run or t-shirt that might be the case with other fundraisers. This day is about making people with MD feel good for a day,” Destache says.

The funds raised by this walk provide support for those who have MD and their families, says Destache. It gives the families needed information for medical supplies, funding for clinic visits, and funds for summer camp, what some MD patients call the best week of the year. The funding of research for a cure is a main focus and cause.

Millions of people suffer to some extent from these diseases, Destache says. Their quality of life consistently decreases. An incredible difference can be made with one dollar or thousands of dollars.

Fundraising for the MDA Muscle Walk will continue until the walk on Sunday, April 29 Hart Park, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. You can donate here.

“If a donation is not possible, then join the walk and come wish these incredibly strong people a good day,” says Destache. “I no longer can think of any cause that is more important.  If you do not have such a cause, pick this one and get behind it as much as you can.  These people deserve a better life and maybe your help will result in a cure.”

Erica Destache was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy on New Year’s Eve in 2014. She was thirteen at the time, and is now sixteen. Erica had shown many symptoms of MD throughout her life; despite this, her diagnosis at thirteen was considered late.

“From the day she was born, she had very low muscle tone, something we were told she’d outgrow. Every muscle of her body is affected. She lacks facial muscles that affect her expressions, people don’t see a big smile even on a good day,” says Destache.

According to Destache, Erica’s symptoms include unclear speech due to muscle weakness, difficulty eating and breathing, braces to realign her jaw and teeth, dystrophy in her calves and feet that make it tiring to walk even short distances, a learning disability, anxiety, missing adult teeth, and headaches.

Over time, Erica’s MD has lead to scoliosis, the need for a bi-pap machine while she sleeps, and splints while she sleeps. The bi-pap machine helps Erica breathe at night while the splints stretch out her muscles. Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy may cause a person to need a wheelchair, but at this point, Erica does not need one.

“Her daily life is slower than many others,” says Destache. “Many of her classes are in the special education department, and it’s difficult for her to find peers to go to school events with or get together with on weekends.”

Destache’s family has adapted to Erica’s disease, finding ways to make daily life easier for Erica so she doesn’t fatigue.

“Day to day has become a routine much like other families, although some days are more difficult than others. Her mom, Beth, stretches her legs for a few minutes when we wake her up, and while Erica gets dressed Beth cleans her bi-pap machine. From that point it’s breakfast, lunches packed, and off to school,” says Destache.

Most days, Destache picks Erica up after school at Waukesha West High School so that she doesn’t fall asleep on the bus ride home.

Destache says the main stigma Erica faces is that most people don’t know what Muscular Dystrophy is, and they don’t have any idea what having MD can mean for a person. This means many people wonder what is wrong with Erica.

“They see her as different and unfortunately most people are not willing to get past that difference to find out what a great friend Erica can be. This isolates Erica from many of her childhood friends and makes it difficult for her to make and keep friends with peers without special needs,” Destache says.

Dale says the Destache family loves being a part of the MDA Muscle Walk.

“I don’t know how else to help my daughter,” says Destache. “I can not fund the research or find the cure so we are driven year after year to work to raise as many funds as we can in the hope that each and every dollar gets us closer to a cure for our daughter and sister.”

Destache says that the walk has also done wonders for Erica’s self-esteem. They read every message that accompanies donations, and Destache and his wife Beth tell Erica about the progress of the fundraising every day.

“She has come to understand that all of these people care about her and that is invaluable,” says Destache.

To learn more about Erica’s battle with Muscular Dystrophy, click here and here.