Coach to Cure MD at Maryville College

Seth Cates joins the players on the field from Maryville College and Brevard College for pre-game coin toss

On September 29, the Maryville College football team joined 224 other colleges and universities across the united states in raising awareness for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and to raise money to fund research for the cure at a Coach to Cure MD event.

Coach to Cure MD was originally started by the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, and in 2008 the American Football Coaches Associated partnered with PPMD for future programs.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a genetic disorder that primarily affects boys. It is the progressive degeneration of muscles, due to a lack of the protein dystrophin, resulting in fragile and easily damaged muscles. DMD also affects the heart and respiratory muscles.

Maryville College alumni Tammy Cate’s son Seth suffers from Duchenne’s, and the family has been participating in the Coach to Cure MD event since the college began hosting them.

“The very first year we did Coach to Cure was homecoming,” said Cates. “I’ve always loved Maryville and so the fact that they host this and help raise funds for my son it makes it even more special to us. They’re like family.”

Cates goes on to explain the importance PPMD has played in her family’s life as well as others whose families have been affected by Duchenne’s.

“We support Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy and we also have families in the area that we have a support group for through Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy and so they donate money to research and doctors and that type of thing which really increases their ability to get close to a cure,” explained Cates. “We’ve been in five clinical trials because of them.”

The Cates family mingles with players, coaches, and fans at the Coach to Cure MD event in McArthur Pavilion.

Cates also touched on the impact the Maryville College Scot’s Football team has made for Seth.

“It gives him a chance to enjoy a day with no doctors, or anything like that, and just enjoy a team,” said Cates. “And this team is amazing. They are so caring and kind and they’ve become family too.”

If you wish to donate to Parent Project Muscular dystrophy, you can do so anytime on their website.

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