Media Release - May 30, 2020
Monday, June 1 will see the start of the 6th annual Max’s Big Ride to end Duchenne muscular dystrophy - with a twist.
Due to COVID-19, nine-year-old Max and his father Andrew Sedmihradsky won’t be riding the usual 600 km between Hamilton and Ottawa to raise awareness and funds for research, but instead will be riding the distance virtually over 7 days from their front yard using a bicycle trainer, laptop and the cycling app Zwift on Max’s Big Ride At Home. (See below for a short video about Max’s Big Ride At Home.)
Also, for the first time ever, Max and his four-year-old sister will be riding part of the distance alongside Andrew at home on their own makeshift bicycle trainers. Due to Duchenne, Max has never really been able to ride a bike - but the trainer gives him a chance to spin his legs and be actively involved in the ride. Both will aim to do 15 minute of riding a day. (See below for a short video of Max and Isla on their bikes.)
For the past five summers, nine-year-old Max Sedmihradsky and his family have raised over $200,000 for research into a cure for Duchenne, a progressive and fatal rare genetic disorder that gradually weakens the body’s muscles. Those with Duchenne are typically bound to a wheelchair by the age of 12, and the disease eventually impacts the heart and breathing muscles. There is currently no cure.
Max’s Big Ride fundraises directly for the University of Toronto and the Gunning Group Lab to fund Max’s Big Fellowship. To date, the Gunning team have been creating chemical compounds to fight Duchenne and are finding promising results. Their compounds are showing high accuracy and effectiveness in suppressing the proteins and enzymes that impede muscle development in DMD - and importantly, inducing DMD cells to develop into muscle fibres. This news provides all important hope to those families affected by Duchenne.
Max’s Big Ride is hoping others will join them, whether virtually via the Zwift app or in spirit, by riding their own stationary bikes at home or riding their bicycles around their neighbourhoods - while practicing proper physical distancing. For ideas on how to get involved, click here.
More Information
For more information, please contact Andrew Sedmihradsky at andrew@maxsbigride.com or 289 527 5608.
To learn more about their cause, the ride or how to get involved, please visit: www.maxsbigride.com and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.