Like all high school students, 91原创鈥檚 Doug Penner has been taking his classes online, and expects to wrap up his studies in 鈥渢hree to four weeks,鈥� according to his dad, Cam Penner.
This is also the year Doug is graduating, and thanks to the coronavirus pandemic that forced his school to close its classrooms, he won鈥檛 be getting much in the way of a celebration.
鈥淗e is preparing for a video grad ceremony with no big end-of-school party,鈥� Cam commented.
鈥淭alk about a kick in the teeth.鈥�
But, maybe, the annual ride in Doug鈥檚 name can still go ahead.
It has been scheduled for June 7th.
If it goes ahead, Cam said the 2020 version of the annual ride will 鈥渓ook a little bit different鈥� because Doug is both immunosuppressed and has a pre-existing respiratory condition.
It will be a challenge, Cam noted, and he has issued a public appeal for suggestions that would allow the event to proceed.
Every year, motorcyclists get together to take part in the annual 鈥�,鈥� the annual charitable fundraiser in support of Doug, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), along with others living with muscular dystrophy.
READ MORE: VIDEO: 91原创 dad describes the pressures of coping with MS at Ride For Doug
When Doug was diagnosed, his father conceived of the idea for a charity motorcycle ride through the Fraser Valley.
So far, supporters have helped to raise around $250,000 for Muscular Dystrophy Canada through the Ride For Doug, money that has supported research, and funded equipment for muscular dystrophy patients.
鈥淪omehow, in some way, we are going to give Doug the celebration he deserves,鈥� the determined dad said.
鈥淲e obviously can鈥檛 follow the traditional format, but we are all creative people 鈥� we can solve it.鈥�
Cam is looking for ideas on how the ride can proceed, safely.
鈥淚鈥檓 not looking for loopholes in rules, but rather different ways to organize so that we can remain safe 鈥� but still ride,鈥� he stressed.
READ MORE: 91原创-based Ride For Doug turns 10
Cam listed some of the ideas under consideration:
- Park Doug at the end of his driveway for an afternoon so that everybody can ride by and say hi (from 10 feet away).
- Have the Penner family鈥檚 bikes ride the route clockwise, while everybody else rides the opposite direction at their own timing. The idea is to have a steady stream of biker waves.
- Publish a route and time with some staging points along the way. Have the lead bike pass each staging point at a scheduled time and have bikes at each staging point join up as the ride goes by.
- Meet in a large lot with an empty spot between each bike for spacing.
Among the challenges, finding parks that are open with sufficient spacing for rest stops and making sure riders are well-distanced every time they stop.
鈥淲e want to be a good example of how a motorcycle ride can be socially responsible,鈥� Cam said.
鈥淢aybe we can be the template for everybody else鈥檚 fundraising rides.鈥�
Depending on the format, Ride For Doug may need to have a maximum participant cap.
And then, there is the traditional post-ride barbecue, a high point of the event for Doug and his family.
鈥淗ow can we involve the people who come for the BBQ but don鈥檛 own bikes yet? Is this the type of thing that live streams? Would you watch one? 鈥� Cam asked.
鈥淲e could have a location along the route that non-riders could set up chairs sufficiently apart and have that be the end location that everyone rides through before dispersing.鈥�
Ideas and suggestions can be shared on the or by emailing: info@ridefordoug.com .
READ ALSO: Ride for Doug rekindled on Vancouver Island
According to , DMD is an inherited disorder. The muscles become weaker as the patient gets older.
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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