In 2012, the Naughton family from Roscommon received the devastating news that their three sons – Archie, George, and Isaac – were diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a severe muscle-wasting disease with no known cure. Tragically, in 2022, they lost their eldest son, Archie, to the illness at the age of 16.
Now, Archie’s brothers, 14-year-old twins George and Isaac have been presented with a beacon of hope: an invitation to participate in a groundbreaking clinical trial in the United States aimed at slowing the progression of DMD, particularly targeting cardiac complications associated with the disease.
Their mother, Paula Naughton, expressed both optimism and urgency, stating that while this opportunity brings hope, it also comes with a significant financial cost. To facilitate their sons’ participation in the trial, the Naughtons have launched a dedicated fundraising campaign through the Join Our Boys Trust. Acknowledging the enormous target of €650,000 by the 6th of January 2025, Paula Naughton was thankful of all support received from the public over the years while making a renewed appeal for support.
The €650,000 goal, if reached, will cover the initial twenty treatments for each twin, essential for maintaining their heart health while the search for a permanent cure continues. As of midnight on January 6th, the dedicated online GoFundMe fundraiser had raised €250,077 from over 7,000 donors but continues to take donations. Alternative methods of donation are available as part of the ‘Save Our Hearts Campaign’ – including direct banking deposit, by post, on iDonate and via PayPal. The campaign was also supported through a successful ‘Global Christmas Raffle’ in recent weeks.
For more information and to support the campaign, visit the Join Our Boys Trust website at joinourboys.org.
