How to allow Data Validation changes using VBA while Worksheet is protected

Hi All,

        I've set up a grouping of Option Buttons that have assigned macro's, these assign different PullDown lists to a specific  Merged cell range in the worksheet.  They work great when I have the worksheet UN-PROTECTED.  When I PROTECT the worksheet, it won't allow me to change the "=list", therefore the Option Buttons fail when selected.  Below is one example of an option button macro.

    Range("D3:J6").Select

    With Selection.Validation

        .Delete

        .Add Type:=xlValidateList, AlertStyle:=xlValidAlertStop, Operator:= _

        xlBetween, Formula1:="=xFILTER"

        .IgnoreBlank = True

        .InCellDropdown = True

        .InputTitle = ""

        .ErrorTitle = ""

        .InputMessage = ""

        .ErrorMessage = ""

        .ShowInput = True

        .ShowError = True

    End With

Is there a way to allow Data Validation changes to the same select cell while the sheet is protected?

Thanks for your time on this - Dean

I have both 2003 & 2010 Excel