WACO, Texas - For the sixth year in a row, college football coaches nationwide will join together in support of the Coach To Cure MD program, which will be held during games of Saturday, September 28, 2013. The rapidly growing annual effort has raised more than a million dollars to battle Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

On September 28th, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) members will wear a Coach To Cure MD logo patch on the sidelines and college football fans will be asked to donate to research projects supported by Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the largest nonprofit organization in the U.S. focused entirely on Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Last year, more than 10,000 college coaches at 580 different institutions participated in Coach To Cure MD events. Both those figures are well higher than in any of the program's first five years (2008-12). The five-year fundraising total is just over $1 million.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed during childhood and primarily affects boys across all races and cultures. Boys and young men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy develop progressive muscle weakness that eventually causes loss of mobility, wheelchair dependency and a decline in respiratory and cardiac function. Currently, there is no cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and limited therapeutic options exist.

As active members of the AFCA the Notre Dame College Falcons Football staff will wear their sideline patches when the Falcons travel to The University of Charleston on Saturday to take on the Golden Eagles.