• Scholarship Letter
• Scholarship Application (.doc)
• Scholarship Application (.pdf)
• Scholarship Recipients for 2003
• Scholarship Recipients for 2006
• 2003 Muscular Dystrophy Golf Classic Photos
• 2006 Muscular Dystrophy Golf Classic Photos
• 2007 Muscular Dystrophy Golf Classic Photos
• 2010 Muscular Dystrophy Golf Classic Photos

Worldwide the incidence of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is 1:3500 male births.  In 70% of the cases females are the carriers of the disease, but only rarely develop symptoms themselves.  If the female is the carrier, there is a 50% chance per male birth that her male offspring will have Duchenne and a 50% chance that her female offspring will be carriers.  Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is the most common, inherited lethal disorder in children.

Prognosis: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a disorder of normal muscle growth resulting in a rapidly progressive loss of function. Three distinct phases are associated with DMD:

1. Transitional Phase (6–12 years):  Demonstrates marked postural adjustments, frequent falls, increasing muscle weakness and functional loss.

2. Loss of Ambulation (8–14 years):  Typically children with DMD lose the ability to walk between 9 and 12 years of age.

3. End Stage (15 years+): Respiratory problems are associated with end stage.  Infections can lead to death due to poor respiratory function.  Assisted ventilation may be used to improve respiratory mechanics.  Cardiac function can be affected.  Boys with Duchenne typically do not live beyond the age of 20. 

Treatment:  There is no current cure for DMD.  Treatment for DMD is aimed at managing the symptoms in an effort to optimize the quality of life.

Prevention:  Genetic counseling is advised if there is a family history of the disease.  Discovery of the genetic cause of DMD has revolutionized diagnosis and genetic counseling.  Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy can be detected with approximately 95% accuracy with prenatal testing.  Unfortunately, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy will never successfully be prevented by genetic counseling because new mutations occur spontaneously and with high frequency. This means that every man or woman can be a carrier of the disease. 

Our Goal:  The Grant C. Alexander Scholarship Foundation’s objective is to increase awareness concerning DMD.  Our hope is that everyone will be screened for the possibility of being a potential carrier of Duchenne’s before beginning a family.  Prevention of DMD is a matter of knowing about the possibilities before birth.  Duchenne, while considered a very difficult and complex disease, serves as a testing ground for the development of new technologies.  We hope and pray for a cure.

The scholarship is a means to inform applicants and their parents of this tragic disease that attacks the most innocent of victims.

ABS Business Products has sponsored this scholarship because of a personal relationship with Grant C. Alexander and his family.  Our belief is that your heart is your most important muscle.