Darius Weems: Resources About His Cause, DMD Clinical Trial

Nov. 22, 2012— -- "Nightline" profiled Darius Weems, a 23-year-old aspiring rapper who suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a rare genetic disorder that results in the disintegration of muscle tissue. We wanted to provide resources to our viewers who might be seeking more information about Darius's story, his cause and the disease DMD.

'Darius Goes West': At age 15, Darius and his friends took an extraordinary journey across the United States in a van built to accommodate his wheelchair. The trip became a documentary, "Dairus Goes West," which Logan Smalley directed and produced. The film, which was partly a coming of age story and partly a story of friendship and gratitude, has become a movement. Darius now travels to schools around the country to talk about DMD, and raises money for DMD research.

For more information or to learn how you can make a donation, visit the website: http://www.dariusgoeswest.org/

Kennedy Krieger Institute's DMD Clinical Trial: The Kennedy Krieger Institute research team has collaborated with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine's Division of Cardiology, to discover whether sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra will help stimulate deteriorating muscles, especially around the hearts of Duchenne victims. Darius is one of their research subjects,

For more information about the clinical trial and how to qualify, visit the institute's online announcement: http://www.kennedykrieger.org/node/4830

For more information about the Kennedy Krieger Institute, visit their main website: http://www.kennedykrieger.org

Charley's Fund Inc.: This not-for-profit foundation finances therapeutics development for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The foundation's mission is to expedite a treatment or cure in time to help this generation of children who suffer from DMD.

For more information, visit their website: http://www.charleysfund.org

The Nash Avery Foundation: This is a not-for-profit private foundation that is focused on financially supporting programs that will slow and eventually stop Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Nash Avery Foundation was founded by Angela and Tom Wicka after their son Nash was diagnosed with DMD.

For more information, visit their website: http://www.nashaveryfoundation.org

NIH's Medline Plus: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Symptoms: DMD is a rare genetic disorder that results in the disintegration of muscle tissue, which quickly gets worse over time.

For more information, visit the NIH's resource page on DMD: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000705.htm