PPMD Kicks Off World Duchenne Awareness Day with Bad Shirt Friday, Special United Nations Documentary Premiere

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the largest U.S. non-profit leading Duchenne and Becker care, research, and advocacy efforts, will join forces with fellow Duchenne-specific organizations from around the world to celebrate World Duchenne Awareness Day on September 7. This global initiative, spearheaded by the World Duchenne Organization, aims to raise awareness about Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy and has gained historic significance with the United Nations' official recognition of the day.

Wear Your Worst Shirt for a Good Cause on Bad Shirt Friday

World Duchenne Awareness Day activities kick off today with the inaugural Bad Shirt Friday. Families, friends, and allies are invited to break out their most outrageous shirts to raise awareness and celebrate the spirit of the Duchenne and Becker community. Participants are encouraged to share their photos on social media using #BadShirtFriday, amplify stories, and consider making a donation. The Bad Shirt Friday Workplace Challenge offers companies a chance to participate by creating a fundraising page, encouraging employees and co-workers to wear their worst shirts in exchange for a donation to support PPMD, and sharing on social media.

"This year, as we approach World Duchenne Awareness Day on September 7th and its theme, Family: The Heart of Care, Bad Shirt Friday is a chance to show that families are not only at the center of care, but also at the center of this effort to raise awareness for Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy," PPMD's Founding President, Pat Furlong, said. "Whether you're a parent, grandparent, sibling, relative, friend, or ally, your voice—and your shirt—can help amplify the message."

PPMD Attends UN Documentary Premiere

As part of World Duchenne Awareness Day commemorations, PPMD attended the United Nations event in New York today to attend the premiere of a community-produced global documentary, an evocative film that centers on families and their journeys with Duchenne and Becker. Aligning with the World Duchenne Awareness Day 2025 theme, the film emphasizes how family—by birth or by bond—fuels resilience and serves as a source of unparalleled support.

World Duchenne Awareness Day Activation Guide & Resources for Families

To help individuals and families gear up for World Duchenne Awareness Day, PPMD has created a Family Activation Guide. This toolkit is filled with ready-to-use social media graphics, sample posts and captions, activities, and ideas to help families share their stories, spark awareness, and uplift the Duchenne and Becker community online and in their communities. Access the Family Activation Guide here.

If you would like to learn more about World Duchenne Awareness Day, including details on how you can participate, please visit PPMD's website.

ABOUT PARENT PROJECT MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

Duchenne is a genetic disorder that slowly robs people of their muscle strength. Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) fights every single battle necessary to end Duchenne.

We demand optimal care standards and ensure every family has access to expert healthcare providers, cutting edge treatments, and a community of support. We invest deeply in treatments for this generation of Duchenne patients and in research that will benefit future generations. Our advocacy efforts have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in funding and won eight FDA approvals.

Everything we do—and everything we have done since our founding in 1994—helps those with Duchenne live longer, stronger lives. We will not rest until we end Duchenne for every single person affected by the disease. Join our fight against Duchenne at EndDuchenne.org. Follow PPMD on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Contact: Emily Bent, 202-317-2459

SOURCE Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD)