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UPDATED: Child-inspired motorcycle ride cruises through Langley, raising $26,500 for muscular dystrophy

The 11th annual Ride for Doug rode through the Fraser Valley this past weekend.
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Doug Penner, 14, saddled up for his 11th consecutive Ride for Doug charity event today. It was an event started by his father to help raise money and awareness for muscular dystrophy. His sister Sam, and Mom, have been among the family and friends who have been part of the fundraiser since its inception. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance)

• To see more pictures from the kick off, click here

Doug Penner mounted the back of his father’s motorcycle Sunday morning, an unerasable grin on his face as the pair set off on a four-hour motorcycle ride through the backroads of the Fraser Valley. And with them, dozens of close friends and complete strangers followed.

It is always the best day of the year, even better than Christmas, for the 14-year-old Langley Christian School student who – for the 11th consecutive year – led the way in his namesake event, Ride for Doug.

It is an annual fundraising ride, which starts and ends at the Langley South Church, that raises money and awareness for Muscular Dystrophy. Doug’s father, Cam, started it in 2007, and now aspires to see it expand – not that he intends to organize it, but jokes that he and Doug will be happy to show up and ride.

“I have had a dream in past years of spreading things wider,” Cam said. “I’d like to make it easy to host your own Ride for Doug in whatever city – but that’s hard to make happen. I don’t have that kind of excess energy at the end of the day. We’ve had friends of Doug do their own individual rides all over the world in past years. He loved that. Pictures of riders from Australia, Brazil, Africa, Europe…”

Time will tell, Dad said. For now, he’s just pleased with how this year’s event came together in what he called a “chaotic and late sprint to the finish.”

Bottom line, there were at least 79 riders who came out, and this year’s event still raised $26,500 for Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

“This was one of the best years ever, as far as weather went. It was perfect from end to end,” Cam said. “and… judging by the smile on Doug’s face – I think we can count this one a success.”

Doug spoke briefly to the crowd after the ride.

“I’m proud of everyone who showed up today. I like seeing the people come here every year. You are helping more people than just me,” he said. “Every year you come and ride… I’d like to thank you for all the support over the years.”

Encouraging guests to keep coming back, Doug said: “Your support has given me the ability to feel more energized in life. I feel a sense that people care for me… People like you move the world forward.”

For the first time, Doug was not the only child in this MD ride.

He was followed a close second in the 80-bike parade by another young man similarly diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) when he was young.

Riley Jonatschick, 17, and his father Rob learned about the Ride for Doug by fluke on the internet a few weeks back, and thought they’d jump on their new customized Harley-Davidson and head out for the day of riding and camaraderie.

Riley is a Grade 11 student at Pitt Meadows Secondary, who was diagnosed with DMD when he was 4.5 years old. He struggles with mobility, as well, often confined to a wheelchair.

Rob, who hadn’t ridden since 1994, got back on the road last year. He took Riley out on a street bike, and soon realized it was difficult for his son to hang on for any kind of distance. But they enjoyed the time together on the bike, and that’s when Rob decided to order a customized motorcycle that could safely accommodate Riley, without causing him pain or strain.

“Now, he can just lean back comfortably and relax,” Rob explained.

The father-and-son pair took part in a prostate cancer charity ride the previous weekend on Vancouver Island, and hope to do a few more such events closer to home this summer. They’re also planning to join a contingent of Lower Mainland riders heading over on the ferry to another Ride for Doug that is going into its fourth year over on Vancouver Island in a few months.

“Yes, I will do this one again, and my dad and I will also participate in the Ride for Doug on Sept. 10,” Riley said.

The Langley ride held some significant meaning for Riley. He said meeting Doug brought back a flood of memories of his best friend Jordan, who died two years ago of heart failure as a complication of his MD.

“I wanted to do this because it reminded me of my friend,” Riley shared. “It just brings me a little bit of joy that there are events like this.”

His favourite part of the ride, Riley insisted, was meeting Doug and his family, with the “great BBQ” coming in a close second.

There were believed to be 80 participating in Sunday’s ride, up significantly from the first year when there were 17 bikes. Then, approximately 290 came together for the fundraising barbecue – back at the church – following the ride.

“It’s a chance for all the people who care about Doug, and want to show their support – like his teachers, support workers, therapist, family, and friends – to come out and be part of the day,” Cam said, so grateful to the volunteers who make the entire day possible.

• Click here for a related story about a drug being restored to Doug’s treatment regime, and what that could mean for this Langley youth

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Almost 80 riders participated in this year’s Ride for Doug charity motorcycle cruise and barbecue held in Langley last Sunday. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance)
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Riley Jonatschick and his father Rob were first-time riders in the Ride for Doug. The 17-year-old Pitt Meadows teen lives with the same disease as ride namesake Doug Penner. They were both diagnosed, as young boys, with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance)
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Doug Penner, 14, saddled up for his 11th consecutive Ride for Doug charity event today. It was an event started by his father to help raise money and awareness for muscular dystrophy. His sister Sam, and Mom, have been among the family and friends who have been part of the fundraiser since its inception. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance)
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Almost 80 riders participated in this year’s Ride for Doug charity motorcycle cruise and barbecue held in Langley last Sunday. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance) Doug Penner, 14, saddled up for his 11th consecutive Ride for Doug charity event today. It was an event started by his father to help raise money and awareness for muscular dystrophy. His sister Sam, and Mom, have been among the family and friends who have been part of the fundraiser since its inception. (Roxanne Hooper/Langley Advance)


Roxanne Hooper

About the Author: Roxanne Hooper

I began in the news industry at age 15, but honestly, I knew I wanted to be a community journalist even before that.
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