Walk 4 Duchenne is about visibility, connection and community. It’s about showing up, sharing stories and reminding families they are not alone.
On Thursday March 5 2026, Save Our Sons together with their national partner Chemist Warehouse led a powerful Walk 4 Duchenne community initiative across Perth. Walkers, families and a dedicated support crew embarked on a four day walk designed to raise vital funds and increase awareness for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
As part of the journey, the group visited our School to show support for one of our Year 9 students who lives with Duchenne. The visit created a meaningful moment for the school community and allowed students to learn more about the condition while standing in solidarity with their classmate.
To recognise the occasion, Year 9 students were invited to wear yellow colours or accessories as a symbol of unity. Students gathered to welcome the walkers and their classmate with a guard of honour, leading them into the Keith Lindbeck Centre on our school campus. The moment highlighted the strength of community spirit and the importance of supporting families affected by rare diseases.
A particularly moving moment of the visit came when the school band performed a touching tribute, singing the Save Our Sons theme song by former ambassador Johnny Ruffo. The performance created an emotional atmosphere inside the Keith Lindbeck Centre and served as a reminder of the ongoing fight to find treatments and a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Founder of Save Our Sons, Elie Eid, expressed his sincere gratitude to the school community for their warm welcome and support. He spoke to the students about the importance of inclusion and encouraged them to stand up for causes that matter. His message reminded students that small acts of support and awareness can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common muscle disease of childhood. Approximately one in every five thousand newborn boys is diagnosed with Duchenne, while it very rarely affects girls, with an estimated occurrence of around one in fifty million girls. The condition occurs across all races and cultures.
Symptoms of Duchenne usually appear between two and five years of age. Early signs may include difficulty running, jumping, climbing and rising from the floor. Children may experience frequent falls, enlarged calf muscles, toe walking and delays in language development.
The first muscles affected are typically those around the hips and upper thighs. Over time the weakness gradually progresses to include all skeletal muscles used for movement, as well as the muscles responsible for breathing and the heart.
Another related condition is Becker muscular dystrophy. Becker is a genetic condition present at birth but symptoms may not appear until around five years of age. It occurs when the body produces an insufficient amount of a protein called dystrophin within muscle cells. Without enough dystrophin the muscles gradually break down over time.
Becker muscular dystrophy is less common than Duchenne, affecting between one in eighteen thousand and one in thirty thousand newborn boys. The average age of diagnosis is between five and fifteen years.
Events such as the Walk 4 Duchenne organised by Save Our Sons and supported by Chemist Warehouse play an important role in raising awareness and funding research. They also provide an opportunity for communities to stand together in support of individuals and families living with muscular dystrophy, reinforcing the message that no one faces the journey alone.
We are grateful to Save Our Sons for choosing us as the starting point for their incredible four day walk, and to their sponsor Chemist Warehouse for generously gifting footballs to all participating students. Together, we stand in support and continue to raise awareness.