27 October 2026
Becker community event to return annually after successful Australasian debut
A Becker muscular dystrophy community event held in Melbourne will return annually following a successful first gathering.
Save Our Sons Duchenne Foundation team members Miled Akle and Deb Robins (at either end) with (from left) Muscular Dystrophy Australia Head of Programs and Impact Mary Orgill, Neuromuscular WA Community Programs Coordinator Bryony Whitwell, Royal Children’s Hospital Neuromuscular Nurse Consultant Daniella Villano, and University of Auckland Neurogenetic Research Lead Miriam Rodrigues.
The 2026 Becker Education and Engagement Day (BEED), held last week, brought together people living with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD), their families, clinicians and researchers to share experiences and hear from medical experts about care, research and quality of life.
The event was the first of its kind in Australasia, joining an international initiative that began in the United States in 2023.
Save Our Sons Duchenne Foundation Treasurer Miled Akle said the event would become an annual occurrence, reflecting the need for connection and support within the Becker community.
“People living with Becker muscular dystrophy and their families need opportunities to connect with others who understand their experiences, ask questions, and learn from experts,” Mr Akle said.
“BEED brought those voices together in one room, and the response from attendees showed just how valuable that is.”
Highlights from the 2026 Becker Education and Engagement Day (BEED).
Held on 23 October at The Larwill Studio Melbourne - Art Series, the event featured a robust program covering genetics and family planning, early disease detection through cardiac MRI, exercise and nutrition, and the research landscape across Australia and New Zealand.
Becker Education and Engagement Day will become an annual event following the success of its first debut in Australasia.
Keynote speaker Tim Harte PhD GAICD, a materials scientist and disability advocate, opened the day, followed by presentations from leading clinicians and researchers.
A highlight for Save Our Sons team member Deb Robins was the Walks of Life panel, where people living with BMD shared their personal experiences.
“Everyone was really connecting, openly exchanging life journeys of how they’ve become so much more than their diagnosis or their declining strength,” Ms Robins said.
The Foundation thanks Servier for its support as the event’s Educational Grant Sponsor.