Tarneit grandmother Sue Tantaro – aka Super Nanny – is on a mission to raise funds for her three grandsons, who all have a genetic condition called duchenne muscular
dystrophy.
Also known as DMD, the fatal illness causes muscle wasting, breathing difficulties and heart problems.
Mrs Tantaro said that this Friday, World Duchenne Awareness Day, she would embark on a 79-day quest to lose at least 7.9 kilograms.
Mrs Tantaro said she was focusing on 7.9 kilograms because DMD affected the 79 exons within a person’s dystrophin gene.
Mrs Tantaro said that for the weight-loss challenge, she had decided to exercise for at least 40 minutes a day. She will track her activity through an Apple watch app and post online, for people who sponsor her, to see.
To help Mrs Tantaro with her weight loss efforts, Jenny Craig in Werribee will supply her with food for the 79 days, while F45 Training Hoppers Crossing has given her a full membership for the project.
Mrs Tantaro said the funds raised through her Super Nanny Cousins Crusade Appeal would go towards travel, medical expenses and speech therapy for her grandsons, Anthony, Jakob and Lukas.
She said they were also fundraising to send the boys to Italy to gain access to a drug that can help DMD sufferers, but which is only available in European Union nations.
“We are hoping to raise $20,000 but would love to raise more than that,” Mrs Taranto said.
To make a donation, visit mycause.com.au and search for “Supernanny”.
