Cam Penner summed up the rain-soaked 18th Ride For Doug Fundraiser this way:

鈥滱 long day. A wet ride. Good friends.鈥�

Held on Sunday, June 2 in 91原创, this year鈥檚 annual fundraiser for Muscular Dystrophy Canada raised $18,500, with 24 motorcycles and five cars turning out despite a downpour that dumped 22.7 millimetres of rain that day, while 120 people attended a 鈥渨arm and dry鈥� barbecue indoors after the ride.

鈥淥ur family is blessed with a strong support network that not even three years of storms can dampen,鈥� Cam commented.

It was the third year of bad weather in a row for the event, a cold wet day 鈥渋ronically sandwiched by two perfect sunny riding days,鈥� Cam noted.

So far, the annual rides have raised closed to $400,000 in the name of Cam鈥檚 son Doug, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), which is considered one of the most severe forms of inherited muscular dystrophies, usually affecting boys in early childhood.

After Doug was diagnosed, his father conceived of the idea for a charity motorcycle ride through the Fraser Valley.

鈥淚t鈥檚 to help people like me and the families of those affected by this horrible disease, just making it more bearable to live with it鈥� Doug remarked before the ride began.

鈥淪o we鈥檙e funding equipment as well as research.鈥�

Most of the money raised has gone to Muscular Dystrophy Canada, with a smaller amount funding special projects for Doug, such as converting a Chevy Traverse from a three-row seat SUV into a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.

Based on conversations at the barbecue, Cam estimated most of the participants had attended multiple Ride For Doug events, something he said left him with a 鈥渨arm emotion of reassurance. Reassurance that no matter how bad things get, we have a team that will stand by us.鈥�

There are plans to hold the annual Ride For Doug Vancouver Island edition as well, later this year, but a date has yet to be announced.

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