Rotary Fun Run Will Help Fight Fatal Childhood Disease

Earlier this year, John Owen Dumm’s already frail leg muscles suddenly gave out. The eight-year-old North Royalton boy moved into another stage of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a fatal progressive disorder that causes the loss of muscle function and independence.

John Owen was diagnosed with the incurable disease in January 2008. Shortly after the diagnosis, his parents, Tony and Jen Dumm, went on the offensive, creating John Owen’s Adventure, an organization dedicated to finding a treatment, improving research and establishing education and awareness programs about DMD. The charity also is committed to raising awareness and research dollars to treat juvenile diabetes.

On Saturday, June 16, the Rotary Club of Strongsville will host its Fourth Annual Run4Fun to raise money for John Owen’s Adventure. The Run4Fun, sponsored by Active Runner and other local businesses, will feature a 5K run and a One-Mile Walk starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Pathway Church, in Strongsville. The event is facilitated through Hermes Sports and Events.

“You can use the muscles you have to help us derail Duchenne and give our boys a fighting chance,” Jen Dumm said. “The generous spirit of our community is paramount for raising funds and awareness to cure the number one genetic killer of young boys.”

Dumm said DMD debilitates and half million boys worldwide and most Duchenne boys do not live to see their 20s.

“As local parents of one of those boys, we are grateful for your support in this Fun Run,” she said.

DMD is one of 40 types of neuromuscular diseases and one of nine types of Muscular Dystrophy that affect children.

“We set up John Owen’s Adventure not only to raise awareness for DMD, but to fund awareness for chronic childhood illnesses,” said Dumm. “We want to develop funds for finding a cure, sustaining the quality of life for these affected children and educating the general public about such illnesses.”

Each year the Strongsville Rotary chooses a different charity to support through its Run4Fun. Past beneficiaries included Achievement Center for Children/Camp Cheerful, Boys Hope Girls Hope of Northeastern Ohio and Youth Challenge.

Runners and walkers who want to participate can pre-register online at www.hermescleveland.com/roadracing/events/run4fun.asp or http://tinyurl.com/botu4um through June 15, at 9:00 a.m., or by mail.  All mailed entries must be postmarked by June 13, 2012 and made payable to Hermes Sports & Events, 1624 St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114. Registration fees are $20 per person for the 5K run and $15 per person for the One Mile Walk. All pre-registered participants will receive an event shirt and a goodie bag.

The starting point is Pathway Church, 21211 Drake Road, in Strongsville. Registration opens at 7:15 a.m. The 5K Run will begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by the One-Mile Walk at 8:45 a.m.

Award and prizes will be given to the top overall male and female runners, with additional awards given for top three times in each age group. Ribbons will be awarded to all walking participants and more than 100 door prizes will be given away. Performance Chiropractic will provide free spot massages for all registered participants.

For more information, contact Hermes Sports & Events at 216.623.9933
For more information about John Owen’s Adventure, visit www.joainc.org.

Rotary is an international organization of business and professional people who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and strive to build goodwill and peace in the world.  For more information about the Rotary Club of Strongsville, visit www.strongsvillerotary.org.