By Karla Braun

LIVING with a child who has Muscular Dystrophy (MD) is like riding a motorcycle, said father Cam Penner. “Blind corners, potholes, cars in oncoming lanes or lurking in driveways – danger and uncertainty line the road ahead.”

But with Ride for Doug, the Penner family isn’t travelling the road alone. The yearly 200-kilometre motorbike ride down the back roads of Langley, Abbotsford and Mission raises money for Muscular Dystrophy Canada to find a cure for the disease.

At two and a half, Doug Penner was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. MD is a genetic disorder that gradually weakens the body, as incorrect or missing genetic information prevents it from making the proteins needed to build and maintain healthy muscles. Life expectancy is usually 20 – 30 years.

Seven year old Doug will eventually lose the ability to walk, sit upright, breathe easily, and move his arms and hands. Though currently in good condition for his diagnosis, he is well below his peers in physical skill.

Simple tasks like buttoning his pants take all his effort, and he lacks the core strength to easily perform activities requiring balance, like climbing stairs or riding a bike.

Doug’s parents, Cam and Allison, and a growing host of motorbike enthusiasts, assemble and do the bike riding for him once a year, through Ride for Doug. The start and finish point is the Penners’ home church, South Langley.

In 2007, 17 bikers raised $2,100. The second year, more riders brought in four times the amount; and the third year, riders on 74 bikes and two scooters raised $10,000 toward finding a cure.

This year, the ride took place June 6. Riders on 51 bikes, two scooters and one electric bike braved a wet and rainy afternoon – and again raised more than $10,000.

Continue article >>

Following the ride, Doug’s friends and family joined together with the riders for a barbecue dinner – which was held indoors. There, 150 people enjoyed a short program featuring door prizes, live music and some education on the disease and the work of MD Canada.

Included was information on what it costs to raise a child with MD; for example, a power wheelchair costs about twice as much as a motorcycle.

Participants in the Ride for Doug don’t have to be in B.C. Riders in Poland, the United States and other Canadian provinces have dedicated miles to Doug and MD research.

In 2007, Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman – authors of the motorcycle saga, Long Way Around – dedicated some of their miles to Doug, as they journeyed through Malawi, Africa for a sequel production, Long Way Down.

Cam Penner said the ride makes Doug a hero for the day. It also gives him and Allison “the gift of support” from their community, church and bikers. Doug loves meeting all the riders, and talking to them about their bikes.

Through the event, Penner introduced his church family to his motorcycle family, and brought the MD world into the mix.

“Seeing the members of our church working hard – side by side with members of the motorcycle associations, for a common cause – has provided a powerful insight into why Christ emphasized service so heavily,” said Penner.

The ride also gives him the opportunity to explain his faith. “God has a plan,” said Penner. “I don’t know what it is – but when almost a hundred motorcycles show up at your church to support your child, you know he has a hand in there somewhere.”

An earlier version of this article appeared in the MB Herald.

Contact: 604.882.5360 or ridefordoug.com.

July 2010