Each year since WMS 2023, the WMS has awarded a share of £10,000 to local good causes nominated by our Local Organising Committee. We are proud to share the details of the four charities who will benefit from our legacy fund in Hiroshima, Japan.
DM Family
DM-Family (Myotonic Dystrophy Patients’ Group of Japan) was founded in 2016. Akane Hatano, who is the founder of DM-Family, aimed to increase the number of the Japanese Registry of Muscular Dystrophy called Remudy.
DM-Family is working and learning together through events, newsletters, and websites. We aim to contribute to DM research as patients, enrich the hearts and minds of patients and their families, and raise public awareness about DM. Our activities are not only focused on Japan but also include joining the Global Alliance for Myotonic Dystrophy Awareness and discussing the disease with many partners around the world.
DM-Family aims to foster patient engagement in Japan and change the future of Myotonic Dystrophy.
You can read more about DM Family on their website.
JMDA is a national patient organisation working together with approximately 1,300 members across Japan. We are actively engaged in patient advocacy, policy dialogue, research partnership activities (PPI), and support for people living with muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular disorders.
You can read more about JMDA on their website.
Patients’ Association for Distal Myopathies (PADM)
The Patients Association for Distal Myopathies (PADM) is a Japanese patient- and family-led organisation working to bring treatments to people living with distal myopathies as quickly as possible, guided by the belief that “nothing will change unless we act.”
PADM has worked directly with researchers, pharmaceutical companies, public authorities and policymakers to promote research, drug development, policy reform and disease awareness. In 2024, we achieved our first major goal: the development of a treatment that can serve as a model case for drug development in ultra-rare diseases.
Your support will be used to help advance the next stage of treatment development. Supporting PADM means supporting patients and families who are facing progressive muscle weakness and are still waiting for real treatment options.
You can read more about PADM on their website.
Japan ADSS1 Myopathy Patient and Family Association
We are the Japan ADSS1 Myopathy Patient and Family Association. ADSS1 myopathy is an ultra-rare, progressive neuromuscular disease affecting fewer than 200 people worldwide. Our mission is to connect patients and families, raise global awareness, and accelerate the research and development of effective treatments, ensuring that all affected individuals can live fulfilling lives with a hopeful future
You can read more about the Japan ADSS1 Myopathy Patient and Family Association on their website.
When you arrive at WMS 2026 and visit the registration desk, you will be given a legacy token alongside your name badge. You will receive additional tokens at each of the Industry Symposia you attend. The small wooden token features the WMS logo. We will have collection boxes for each of the charities mentioned above. You can select which of the charities you would like us to donate to on your behalf by depositing your token in the appropriate box. At the end of the Congress, we will count up all the tokens in each box and divide our £10,000 donation based on the votes of Congress delegates. We will share the information with you after the Congress and visit each of the charities to make our donations.
