WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University football team and coaching staff will be participating in the Coach to Cure MD project during Thursday night’s game against Urbana at West Family Stadium.

“Coach to Cure MD” is a partnership between the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), a professional organization for over 10,000 college football coaches and staff, and Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the largest national charity devoted exclusively to Duchenne muscular dystrophy.The AFCA adopted PPMD’s Coach to Cure MD program in 2008 as one of its major charity efforts. The AFCA was drawn to Coach to Cure MD by the contrast between Duchenne, a disorder which robs young men of their muscle strength and college football, a game where young men are at the peak of their muscle strength.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed during childhood and primarily affects boys of all races and cultures.Those stricken with the disease develop progressive muscle weakness which eventually causes a loss of mobility and decline in respiratory and cardiac function. Currently, there is no cure and limited therapeutic options exist.

More than 10,000 college coaches at more than 600 institutions participated in last year’s Coach to Cure MD events. The annual effort has now raised more than $1.25 million to aid in raising awareness for the fight against the disorder.

The Hilltoppers will be hosting a local family from Moundsville whose son, J.T. Scandinaro, suffers from Becker’s MD, a form of Duchenne’s which progresses at a slower rate. The football team and campus community have joined together in an effort to make this a memorable night for the young man.

After a guided tour of the WLU campus, J.T. will be taken to the WLU locker room to meet the coaches and players.He’ll receive an official game jersey and lead the team onto the field for pre-game warmups. As an honorary captain, he’ll walk out to midfield with the team captains and flip the coin for the coin toss.

After spending the first half on the sidelines with the West Liberty cheerleaders, he’ll return to the field at halftime to receive a Presidential Citation from WLU Interim President Dr. John McCullough officially recognizing J.T. Scandinaro as an honorary Hilltopper. After the game, he will be presented with several more articles of WLU apparel along with a football signed by the entire West Liberty football team.

Campus groups have been raising money throughout the week to donate to PPMD in J.T.’s name. Proceeds from the night’s 50-50 drawing will also be donated. Green balloons and ribbons (green is the color of MD awareness) will be sold during the game to raise additional funds. After Dr. McCullough presents his presidential citation at halftime, fans will be asked to stand and release their balloons as a visible symbol of the rising awareness in the fight against MD.

Football fans also can donate to Duchenne MD research by going online to www.CoachtoCureMD.org or by texting the word CURE to 90999. A $5 donation will be added to your next phone bill. Stay on top all Hilltopper Athletics headlines by visiting hilltoppersports.com.