Langley Advance - Friday June 11, 2010

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LangleyAdvance

Langley catcher in major league

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Friday, June 11, 2010

Your source for local sports, news, weather, and entertainment: www.langleyadvance.com

We’re in Your Backyard

Ride makes MD boy beam

Weather didn’t dampen the spirits of motorcyclists who mounted up in honour of Doug Penner and his fight. by Roxanne Hooper

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Muscular Dystrophy

rhooper@langleyadvance.com

Starting at

pg A39

Realizing a power wheelchair costs almost twice as much as a motorcycle brought home the impact of what families face when raising kids with muscular dystrophy. At least it was a lesson learned by some 50 motorcycle riders and 100 other supporters who weathered a wet and rainy afternoon in Langley last Sunday to be part of the fourth annual Ride For Doug. “The rain may have soaked the leather, but it did nothing to dampen the spirits of the riders who participated,” founding organizer Cam Penner told the Langley Advance. The annual motorcycle charity ride, which benefits Muscular Dystrophy “For Doug, this day was bigCanada, started in Fernridge ger than Christmas and his for a 200-km birthday put together…” ride through CAM PENNER Langley, Abbotsford, and Mission. The event was Theresa Wiebe photo started by Penner, a motorcycle Doug Penner, now seven, and his father Cam geared up for last Sunday’s charity motorcycle enthusiast who wanted to raise ride through the Fraser Valley. All money raised goes to Muscular Dystrophy Canada. awareness and money for a cause extremely close to his heart. fun-loving, happy boy, thanks to his young son, this yearly ride His son Doug, now seven, has a regime of steroid treatments, is about showing support for his a genetic disorder that weakens the disease is taking its toll on son and also helping thousands and destroys his muscle tissues this little gaffer, limiting his abil- of others living with the disease. faster than his body can repair ity to climb, run, or jump like While the event is called Ride them. most other Grade 2 children in for Doug, none of the money The Walnut Grove child was his West Langley Elementary goes to the local family. two-and-a-half when he was classroom. A wheelchair is needAll funds raised go to the diagnosed with always fatal ed for any extended outings. Vancouver chapter of Muscular Duchenne muscular dystrophy. For the proud pappa, who has Dystrophy Canada. While Doug appears a typically watched the ride grow alongside “Ride For Doug 2010 has come

and gone,” Penner said. “It has been a mentally and physically draining event to put on, but watching the emotional support pour out of the community makes it all worthwhile.” The ride departed from the South Langley Church parking lot with 51 bikes, two scooters, and one electric bike. And after a three-and-a-halfhour ride through the Fraser Valley, the group rolled back into Fernridge about 5 p.m. for a hamburger barbecue and socializing. Despite numbers of participants and amount of money raised being down – likely due to the weather – Penner was still elated with the results of this year’s event. “Fortunately, bikers are as generous in giving as they are in spirit. Ride For Doug 2010 raised more than $8,000 (and counting) for Muscular Dystrophy Canada,” Penner said, noting MDC provides information, education, support, and equipment help for families dealing with neuromuscular disorders. “For Doug, this day is bigger than Christmas and his birthday put together. He loves meeting all the riders and talking to them about their bikes,” Penner said. For the second year in a row, Doug also participated in the entire ride, saddling up with his father on their Triumph Sprint RS. Doug is always beaming in the days and hours leading up to the ride, Penner said. But after this year’s ride, despite the weather, Doug’s smile was “priceless.” While the annual ride is traditionally held on the first Sunday of June, Penner said that, given the chaos of life, he reserves the right to change that as needed. He expects to have a firm date for 2011 set by January. Watch www.RideForDoug.com for more information.

Riders left South Langley Church about 1:30 p.m. and rode for almost four hours through the Valley, only making two rest stops for water, washroom breaks, and a few batches of delicious homemade cookies made by Doug Penner’s older sister Samantha. Doug Chaffee photo


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