The railway tunnel that links Broad Street and Hood Road in Barry was lit up in red out of respect for World Duchenne Awareness Day.
According to NHS Inform, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a muscle wasting condition that causes progressive muscle weakness. It usually only affects boys and those assigned male at birth.
It is caused by a lack of a protein called dystrophin. This causes muscle fibres to break down. They’re replaced by fibrous or fatty tissues that cause the muscle to gradually weaken.
Recognising that Duchenne muscular dystrophy is one of the most common paediatric genetic rare diseases, the General Assembly decided to designate September 7 as World Duchenne Awareness Day. The colour Red is associated with the event.
The Vale of Glamorgan Council offered the following statement in support.
Councillor Eddie Williams, the council's cabinet member for social care and health, said: “We are very proud to light landmarks like the Hood Road tunnel red each year to mark World Duchenne Awareness Day.
“The day raises global awareness about Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD and BMD), conditions that affect more than 250,000 people worldwide.
“It is a cause particularly close to us here in the Vale due to the work of our fabulous team at Ysgol Y Deri who offer specialist support to those pupils with the condition both from Ysgol Y Deri and other schools in the area.”
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