About
In 2015, PBC Firefighter, Tim Petz and his wife found out their son Logan (3 years old at the time) had been diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. A family who built a life around helping others, is now fighting to save their own son! Over the years, The Petz family has taken an active role raising awareness. During that time, they quickly learned they were not alone, meeting families and fellow Firefighters from across the Country dealing with the same devastating diagnosis. As a result, Firefighters on a Mission (FOAM) was established to help those on their journey towards a cure.
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FOAM IS HERE TO HELP FAMILIES & YOU CAN TOO! Start with the 5 E’s:
ENCOURAGE: Sharing your personal life with “strangers” is hard enough. Combine that with someone you love being diagnosed with devastating form of Muscular Dystrophy and that fear multiplies. We are here to encourage and support families that choose to take that leap of faith. No one should have to fight a battle like this alone!
EDUCATE: Wait…. you’ve never heard of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy? It feels like we’ve told everyone in the world 10 times already!!!! The truth is, we have a lot of learning to do ourselves. Doing our part means learning as much as we can and getting the word out. The way we see it, the more people that know, the greater the chance for a cure.
EMPOWER: Watch out, we fight by taking action! It requires effort, but “we got this” and together, with people like you, we will change the lives of those fighting against DMD FOREVER!! (little secret: a simple act of kindness will change your life too!) Be empowered with us.
ENDURE: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy isn’t a battle that started yesterday. It’s a war that has been going on for centuries. These brave warriors fight against all odds day in and day out and refuse to go down without a fight. Because they endure, we will too!
EXTINGUISH: This “E” goes without saying! A firefighter’s job is to extinguish the hazard and that is exactly what Firefighters on a Mission intends to do!
YOUR SUPPORT PROVIDES HOPE!
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Firefighters on a Mission has partnered with a variety of organizations that specifically focus on finding a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Money raised will be distributed to these organizations, while some is reserved to provide firefighters assistance in the purchase of medical needs and equipment for their child with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Your donation is 100% tax deductible & guaranteed to make a difference. For that, we can’t thank you enough!
What Is Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy?
Duchenne is the most common genetic disorder diagnosed in early childhood. It causes a progressive loss of muscle function, including the heart and lungs, taking away independence. As of today, DMD is fatal - meaning, there is no cure or treatment that will completely stop the progression of this disease. Those with Duchenne are in a race against time, as their muscles deteriorate a little more each day. Typically, those that have DMD will lose their ability to walk between the ages of 10-14 and may survive until their 20’s. That is what makes this fight so urgent!
Treatments
Although there is no cure yet, many with DMD, including Logan, travel great distances seeking specialized care and participating in treatment/drug trials. We remain optimistic that a cure is within reach and so these children have a chance to live a longer, happier, healthier life!