About Us
The Muscular Dystrophy Association of New Zealand Inc. (MDANZ) began in the late 1950’s as a support group for families affected by muscular dystrophy. Since then, MDANZ has broadened its scope to include many other neuromuscular conditions. We are proud to have Judy Bailey and Dame Susan Devoy as our longstanding patrons.
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We have four regional branches - Northern, Central, Canterbury and Southern - that are supported by the national office based in Auckland. MDANZ supports individuals, families and whānau by providing specialist information, practical resources, personalised support services, social networks, campaigns for public awareness and advocacy. And through our research trust, we work to improve care standards and facilitate access to potential treatments for neuromuscular conditions.
Our organisation is a registered charity and we rely almost entirely on voluntary donations from the general public, trusts and other businesses/organisations to continue our work.
What are Neuromuscular Conditions?
"Neuromuscular condition" is a broad umbrella term that describes a variety of muscle disorders. The conditions covered by MDANZ are rare and mostly genetic. Progressive muscle wasting leads to loss of mobility and independence, and there are often major impacts on organ systems, which can result in early loss of life. Symptoms can appear at birth, or for others, not until much later in life. These conditions can be unpredictable and there are limited treatment options.
