Alistair Stevens has pledged to support families living with muscular dystrophy

I have pledged to support families living with muscular dystrophy if elected on 6 May.

As the Liberal Democrat candidate for High Peak I have signed up to the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign's Manifesto for Muscle which asks for backing in six key areas to help in the fight for better muscle disease services.

If elected I will be a vital link for local patients and families in the fight for better muscle disease services, will raise awareness of muscle-wasting conditions and put pressure on the NHS to improve health services.

So far the support of MPs has been invaluable for muscle disease campaigners. They have given patients and families their backing at meetings with regional health bosses in Parliament and have spoken at muscle group meetings about local campaigning.

I will give families living with muscle disease in High Peak support in their fight for better health services and care, and to raise awareness of these often devastating conditions.

"My constituents can definitely count on my support in the campaign for better muscle disease services if I am elected to represent them. I would be proud to back families living with muscle disease in getting the care they deserve."

The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign's Director of Policy and Services, Robert Meadowcroft, said:

"We are delighted to be able to count on the support of Alistair Stevens in the fight against muscle disease and look forward to working together in the future."

The six pledges Alistair has made are:

• to join the All Party Parliamentary Group for Muscular Dystrophy which raises awareness of the conditions

• to meet with their local Muscle Group, a campaigning forum for patients and their families

• to meet with their local health bosses and find out what they are doing to improve muscle disease health services

• to support a new All Party Parliamentary Group for Young Disabled People

• to meet with their local Trailblazer ambassador, part of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign's young disabled campaigners group, and help them fight to improve access to education, leisure facilities and public transport

• to ensure vital funding for potential new therapies is a high priority for the NHS.

To find out more about the work of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign go to www.muscular-dystrophy.org.