Kirill has Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. DMD only occurs in boys and symptom onset is in early childhood, usually between ages 3 and 5. Until relatively recently, boys with DMD usually did not survive much beyond their teen years. Thanks to advances in cardiac and respiratory care, life expectancy is increasing and many young adults with DMD attend college, have careers, get married and have children. Survival into the early 30s is becoming more common, and there are cases of men living into their 40s and 50s. (Info: mda.org) Kirill is supported by the MoyoMio charity which focuses solely on DMD. 



Zenit supporters let us know about Kirill, a huge blue-white-sky blue fan from Vladimir, a city 180km east of Moscow and told us how he watches all our games on TV. It's not possible for Kirill to travel the long distance to St. Petersburg, so we invited him and his mum, Natalia, to Moscow instead to support us in the game against Dynamo.

Before the game Artem Dzyuba broke away from his normal matchday routine to go and met Kirill and thank him for his support. The Zenit striker also gave Kirill a signed shirt and his tickets for that evening's game and spent some time talking with our guest. Kirill told us "Dzyuba looks just like his pictures, just a little slimmer!"



In the evening, Kiril and his mum came to the VTB Arena and for the first time watched Zenit in a live game. Artem Dzyuba scoring one and making the second meant Kirill got to see his favourite player at his best and Zenit take home all three points.

We'd like to thank Kirill for coming to support us and  Такие дела and МойМио for helping to make the day possible.