Europc are proud to have sponsored Michael and his team on their pole2pole expedition in order to show our support and help raise money for the development of effective treatments and therapies for those with neuromuscular diseases. We fully understand that nowadays disability is very much at the centre of our lives and we strongly admire Michaels courage in taking on a huge challenge to help a worthy cause.

The Muscular Help Foundation [MHF] is a focal point for accelerating the eradication of muscle disorders through raising awareness, funds, co-ordinating support and research efforts worldwide. One of MHF's core beliefs is that the surest route to the development of effective treatments and therapies for those with neuromuscular diseases is the ability to inspire active participation by working collaboratively towards a common goal real people, real actions, real outputs, not simply uplifting human and corporate consciousness, but working smart to make a difference.

Actioning their beliefs, a discussion between Miles Peckham [MD of Watermark Event Management Ltd, Chairman and co-founder of The Muscular Help Foundation] and Michael McGrath [then a Trustee of MDC] generated the idea of the pole2pole project. The sole aim of the 2004 expedition was to reach the South Pole to raise awareness and funds for the cause. This project followed on from Christopher Copes [Head of Development at Benchmark Group Plc] successful expedition to the North Pole to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign of Great Britain.

During the event in January 2004, muscular dystrophy sufferer Michael McGrath made history after becoming the first disabled person ever to reach both the North and South poles. Michael McGrath has Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy and was diagnosed in 1983 at the age of 18yrs. In the UK, 1 in every 3500 boys are born with Duchenne MD, the most severe and common form of Muscular Dystrophy by the age of 8 to 11yrs they cannot walk. Most die from heart or respiratory failure by mid-20's. Muscular Dystrophy is not a well-known condition. It affects approximately 3.5 million people worldwide.

As a sufferer of MD, Michael's circulatory system is less efficient. One of the side effects of his condition is that he feels the cold considerably more than able-bodied people, particularly in his extremities [hands, feet and in Michael's specific case, his legs]. Human nature the way it is, the more extreme the endeavour, the greater the media interest which in turn drives the message all the more remarkable for a person with MD to cope with both Arctic and Antarctic environments.

To find out more about The Muscle Help Foundation please visit www.musclehelp.com.