Founder of Lululemon Chip Wilson is slowly feeling the debilitating effects since being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy over 30 years ago.
Besides his diagnosis, what many customers and fans of the brand did not know, is that the Vancouver billionaire has donated $100 million to launch and fund Solve FSHD.
Lululemon’s founder is racing to cure the rare disease destroying his muscles https://t.co/1Y4aHHmbbh
— Businessweek (@BW) October 20, 2023
The entrepreneur, worth an estimated $7.1 billion, shared that four years ago, while in an airport in China, he tripped and landed hard on a newly polished floor – a new challenge emerged.
“I got up immediately. My ego was like, in check. And then I went about 15 feet and did the same thing again. And then I realized that the muscle on my left foot wasn’t coming up,” Wilson shared with Global News. “It was not working anymore. So, my left toe wasn’t coming up anymore as I (brought) my foot through.”
The Solve FSHD venture supports scientific research into facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a rare form of muscular dystrophy.
“FSHD is life-altering and I know my future will be challenging,” said Wilson, who is now 67 years old and, while still able to walk, has suffered significant muscle tissue loss.
Wilson was 32 years old when he was first diagnosed with the rare type 2 facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. The 67-year-old has always been in good shape but shared that after experiencing inability to use his arms to swim across a pool as well as escalating back pain, a neurologist shared the news.
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“Solve FSHD will accelerate the underfunded development of drugs and therapies to stop muscle degeneration, increase muscle strength and improve the quality of life for those living with this. I can still walk, but I must be very intentional and present, or I will trip and fall. I do see a day when I will be unable to walk on my own,” Wilson said in a statement.
Having this disease does not keep Wilson down, however. “I choose to be happy 100 times a day,” he said. “I choose life.”
Solve FSHD and Wilson share the objective of finding a cure by 2027.
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