Dealing for Duchenne Charity Casino Night Brings Together Cambridge Business Leaders to Benefit Lives of Those Living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

CAMBRIDGE, MASS., October 5, 2016 – CureDuchenne and Art In Giving announced they are co-hosting Dealing for Duchenne in Cambridge on October 20 in the heart of Kendall Square to help save the lives of those with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.  Cambridge will turn vintage Vegas for a one-of-a-kind night of friendly competition in poker, blackjack, and other classic casino table games. This charity casino night will benefit and fund research projects to help find a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Janet Wu, a former Channel 7 news science reporter, will emcee the evening’s events which will include honoring Dr. Lou Kunkel of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Dr. Kunkel is an internationally recognized geneticist with years of experience and scientific success in the understanding of the basis for muscular dystrophies. Dr. Kunkel is universally recognized for the identification of the gene and encoded protein, dystrophin, which is mutated in boys with Duchenne.

The evening features food, drinks, casino night, prizes, and a live and silent auction. With DJ J Boom spinning Ocean’s 11 beats, signature cocktails hand mixed by Andrew Cabot of Privateer Rum, and a Rat Pack Martini Bar, the night will be a great opportunity to network with colleagues from VC firms, hedge funds and the Biotech C-suite. Guests have an opportunity to test ride and win a high end electric car.

“We are pleased to partner with Art in Giving to engage the Cambridge business community for a fun evening to help raise funds to find much needed treatments for Duchenne,” said Dr. Jak Knowles, MD, Managing Director, CureDuchenne Ventures and Vice President of Medical and Scientific Affairs, CureDuchenne. “Proceeds from this event will be used to fund projects that accelerate drug development targeting all aspects of this devastating disease.”

“Art in Giving is dedicated to supporting pediatric cancer research via the sale of fine art. We understand the impact that rare diseases, like Duchenne, can have on children and recognize the urgent need to find solutions for patients suffering from these diseases,” said Salvatore Zinno, Advisory Board Member, Art in Giving.  “We are proud to support CureDuchenne and partner with them on this event that we believe will help educate the public about Duchenne, while generating the financial support needed to find solutions for patients.”

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a fatal genetic muscle disease that impacts 300,000 patients worldwide, most of them boys and young men. Duchenne patients are usually diagnosed at age 5, lose their ability to walk by 12 and most don’t survive their mid-20s. Currently there is no cure for Duchenne. Proceeds of the event will fund impactful research to find a cure for Duchenne.