Welcome to the Western PA Chapter!
Thank you for visiting the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the FSHD Society which officially launched in June 2018. We are here to build a local community of patients, family and friends, and help them connect and advocate for themselves and each other. Our hope for the future is to find a cure – Until then, we hope to bring a greater awareness to the community, and to help improve the quality of life of all those affected.
The Western PA Drum & Roll
Mark your calendars: The first-ever Drum & Roll will take place on Saturday, November 6th, 2021! We invite you to join us in raising funds, awareness, and celebrating coming together as a community again this fall. In this unique event, participants will learn and enjoy a mobility-device-friendly West African dance. There is so much more to this event than meets the eye, and we can't wait to see you there! Click the icon below to learn more!
Volunteer Spotlight: Mark Christman
Hear from your local Chapter Director, Mark Christman, as he shares his FSHD journey, what his involvement has meant to him, and his advice to the newly diagnosed.
To contact us directly, please email:
WesternPAChapter@fshdsociety.org
Don’t forget to follow us on FACEBOOK
Please join us! Simply fill out the form in the sidebar to become a member of the Western PA chapter.
Upcoming Events
Sharegiver Hour
8:00 - 9:00 PM ET | 7-8pm CT | 6-7pm MT | 5-6pm PT This monthly meeting is for those of you who are providing care to loved ones with... Read More »
Women on Wellness
First Wednesday of every month 5:00 pm ET | 4:00 pm CT | 3:00 pm MT | 2:00 pm PT This is our mutual support and social group for women... Read More »
Western PA Drum & Roll
Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall 300 Beechwood Avenue, Carnegie, PAPlease mark your calendars: The 2021 Western PA Drum & Roll to Cure FSHD has been scheduled! We hope to see you on Saturday, November 6th, 2021! Event information can... Read More »
MARK CHRISTMAN
Chapter Director
Mark and his wife Renee have powered through the challenges of FSHD for more than 30 years. From the day that Mark proposed to Renee and her parents objected because they feared Mark’s disease, through decades of juggling two careers and raising three now-adult children, their unwavering devotion to each other has carried them through the toughest days.
It’s that type of support that Mark, diagnosed as a teenager and using a power wheelchair for almost 20 years, hopes to provide to others through the Western PA Chapter of the FSHD Society. A retired Pittsburgh attorney, Mark vividly remembers the first time he met another person with FSHD during a 2014 FSHD Society meeting in Boston. He also recalls how news of groundbreaking research spearheaded by the FSHD Society lifted his spirits and buoyed his hope for the future.
Mark is excited to start the Western PA chapter to empower patients and families through education, while leveraging their energy and the public’s interest to raise funds needed to accelerate the search for a cure to the disease that affects 1 million people worldwide.
Stay Informed on Chapter Activities!
Join the world’s largest network of patients, families, clinicians, researchers, and friends advocating for FSH muscular dystrophy. Let us know you want to be a part of the local chapter and you'll never miss a meeting or event notice.
When you sign up you'll receive the latest word on clinical trials, information on how to live strong, and about local events that will connect to our remarkable community. You will also have the option to join our patient contact registry.
If you want to know more about this and why it is so important, learn more HERE
Your personal information will be kept strictly confidential.
