Spinal Muscular Atrophy Association of Australia Inc

The Spinal Muscular Atrophy Association of Australia Inc. is the first national service supporting families and individuals affected by Spinal Muscular Atrophy.  As a non-government funded charity we rely solely on philanthropic bodies and fundraising to provide support, information and assistive technology to members. Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a genetic disease divided into 4 types; leading to progressive muscle weakness and wastage.  This wastage of muscles not only affectes the sufferes external muscles like arms and legs, but all their internal muscles like breathing, coughing and swallowing. The  Associations Equipment and Resource Library has been developed to allow members to utilise specialised equipment, aids, and educational tools. ABS documents that 52 Australian lives 1. are lost to SMA and related syndromes ( Motor Neurone disease) each month. As there is no treatment, much less a cure, our fundraising also contributes to vital research. With 1 in 35 people indiscriminately carrying the SMN gene; greater awareness provided by SMA Australia alone is crucial to the education of future generations.