UNF students raising money to help 6-year-old with muscular dystrophy

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Local students are helping a little girl with muscular dystrophy.

Six-year-old Belle was diagnosed with Walker Warburg Syndrome when she was 5 months old, according to her parents Caleb and Laurel Dunlap.

Laurel told Action News Jax, "We could either focus on the diagnosis an kind of let it define her life and maybe even define our lives too but we chose not to focus on that."

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Instead the family focuses on what Belle can do, she has already doubled her life expectancy.

"She's been on 3 cruises, close to 8 different countries throughout her life she loves going on walks outside," described Caleb.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association has connected them with families in similar situations.

The University of North Florida's Sport Management class is raising money for the organization.

So far Belle's team has collected $5,400, their goal is to raise as much money as possible by April 27.

Team leader Jacob Jeffries said, "It goes towards medical costs for families it goes to paying for camp for kids which is a week long."

Belle isn't quiet old enough to go to camp, but with the research conducted from the money raised her parents are hopeful she's get the chance.

Cox Media Group