Reaching a Cure: One Touchdown at a Time

The Souhegan Sabers football team are going the extra yard to find a cure for a special young boy suffering from a form of muscular dystrophy.

The Sabers have joined forces with the Hope for Gus Foundation and Coach to Cure to host a game to raise funds to fight Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Four-year-old Gus Dreher was diagnosed with DMD last year, which is a fatal genetic disorder that afflicts one in every 3,500 boys born each year.

You can help Gus and other boys like him by making a “touchdown pledge,” committing a donation for every touchdown made by the Sabers during their game on Friday, Oct. 7. Donations towards the cause can also be made via text.

Gus’ father Steve Dreher, a teacher at Souhegan High School, and his wife Tonya started The Hope for Gus Foundation soon afterward to help find the cure before it is too late.

“It is the most common and the most severe form of muscular dystrophy,” said Steve Dreher, “Gus’ prognosis is that he will be in a wheel chair by 11 or 12.  He is not expected to live through his 20s.”

The Drehers are convinced that they, in collaboration with other foundations and with the support of the community, can help change that prognosis.  

“Research is promising,” said Steve Dreher, “scientists know more about the disease than ever before. There is absolutely no reason why another generation of boys has to die from this disease.”

“When we consider that Gus has just four to six years until he loses his ability to walk, it makes us that much more determined to support researchers as much as we can,” ” said Tonya Dreher. “Our goal is to find a cure so that Gus and the thousands of boys born each year with DMD are able to live full lives and fulfill their potential in this world.”

Mike Belliveau, Souhegan’s head football coach, agrees.

“Finding a cure or treatment within Gus’s lifetime is achievable. This is a tremendous opportunity for the Souhegan community to be a part of making this dream a reality.”   

Maggie Paul, Souhegan’s Community Service coordinator who has also helped organize the event, said, “What better way for students to serve our community than to help find a cure or treatment for Gus and boys like him?”

To help raise awareness of this common, fatal genetic disorder,  Gus will lead the team onto the field, and he'll accompany the captains for the coin-toss.  In addition, the end zone will become "The Gus Zone."  Information about The Hope for Gus Foundation and Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, which sponsors Coach to Cure, will be available at the game.

To make a “Touchdown” pledge for the Oct. 7 game, please email hopeforgus@yahoo.com or call 603-464-9588.  For more information on Hope for Gus, visit www.hopeforgus.com

Information provided by Souhegan High School.