Hi folks - my name is Gary Morton. Myself and two life long friends (Steven Collie and Campbell Archibald) are embarking upon a fun Smokey and the Bandit themed road trip (Bangers to Bangor) in the aid of supporting three well deserving local causes. Hannah’s Hero’s Hannah is a very special little girl and is one of Campbell’s cousins children. At 15 weeks old she was diagnosed with a rare muscle disorder called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Hannah has type 1 of the disease which is the most severe. SMA is a genetically inherited condition that is caused by a faulty gene, and affects the muscles in the body. Approximately 1 in 10’000 babies per year in the UK are born with SMA. SMA is a degenerative, life limiting condition. Without treatment babies with type 1 rarely see their 2nd birthday. Until recently there was no treatment for SMA, however in the past few years, there have been advances in medical technologies and research, and thankfully there are now treatments available for this condition. In February 2024, thanks to the hard work of doctors at Ninewells Hospital Dundee and the Royal Children's Hospital Glasgow, Hannah became the 1st child in Scotland be given a drug called Zolgensma, on an unlicensed basis. This treatment is a brand new Gene Therapy, which gives the patient an active copy of the faulty gene which causes SMA. This is embedded in a Virus and infused intravenously over 1 hour to ensure it reaches all parts of the body. Hannah's treatment is going well and she is starting to shows signs of improvement: stronger muscles leading to increased movement and head control. Her breathing and swallowing have also improved, and this is critical to prevent chest infections which can be very dangerous for her. The Archie Foundation The Archie Foundation exists to make a difference in healthcare and bereavement for local children and their families within the Grampian, Tayside and Highland regions . They do this by working in partnership with the NHS and other child development and childcare professionals including, but not limited to, those working in the education and social work sector. Rotary Hub of Opportunities The Rotary Hub are a group of local ‘Rotarian’s’ who give up there own time to make significant improvements for communities and individuals. We set ourselves a modest budget to buy a banger to make our road trip in and as it’s Smokey and the Bandit themed, we’ll be dressed and in character the full road trip.
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