Cambridge chemist 'one of the lucky ones' with muscular dystrophy battle
Martin Stockley was diagnosed with the condition 15 years ago
A chemist from Cambridge living with muscular dystrophy has said he's feeling more fortunate than others ahead of a charity run he will be taking part in.
Martin Stockley, who was diagnosed with the muscle-wasting condition 15 years ago, is running the Cambridge Town and Gown 10k today.
He hopes by doing so, it will allow charity Muscular Dystrophy UK to look at more ways to treat the condition.
"I feel like one of the lucky ones"
"There's some things that frustrate me, really minor things, but it's a weird one because I feel like I'm one of the lucky ones," he said.
I'm feeling fairly strong but it could be in 20, 30 years' time I might need a wheelchair, so if research can find treatments and prevent progression of my condition, that would be fantastic."
Martin, who works as a medicinal chemist, has been living with facioscapuloperoneal muscular dystrophy (FSHD), which affects facial, shoulder blade and upper arm areas, since he was 30-years-old.
FSHD a common type of muscular dystrophy
The condition affects his mother who was diagnosed in her mid-fifties along with his younger siblings.
Muscular Dystrophy UK say FSHD is one of the most common forms of muscular dystrophy, with experts estimating between three and five people out of every 100,000 have the condition.
"If I can get a personal best of 52 minutes, I'll be very pleased but of course (it's about) raising money and awareness," he said.
"Hopefully by me doing it, that can inspire other people to get out and running for general health and fitness, and I think that's a great thing."