By Lauren King
On Aug. 17, 2019, the 21st Annual Mitchell’s Run Thru Rockford (MRTR), a 5K Run/Walk and Kids for Kids Fun Run, will take place in downtown Rockford. 100% of the race fees and pledges from this event are donated to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD).
The race is named for Mitchell Peterson, who was was diagnosed with Duchenne shortly before his third birthday.
PPMD’s mission is to end Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a fatal genetic disorder that slowly robs people of their muscle strength. Those with Duchenne are truly in a race against time as their muscles deteriorate further each day.
Duchenne is the most common muscular dystrophy in children. It is a progressive disorder that causes muscles to become weaker over time until it affects the whole body. Duchenne is not contagious. About one out of every 5,000 boys has Duchenne, and about 20,000 babies worldwide are born with it each year. Duchenne mostly affects boys and reaches across all races and cultures. Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) estimates that there are about 15,000 young men, as well as a few young women, living with Duchenne today in the United States.
Over the past 20 years, MRTR has included over 10,000 participants, 1,000 volunteers, and several thousand spectators, raising over $1,000,000. Mitchell’s Run Thru Rockford has been designated by Classic Race Management as “One of the Premier Running Events in West Michigan”.
When you join Mitchell’s Run thru Rockford, a Race to End Duchenne, you are supporting PPMD’s vital work in advancing research, care, and advocacy to help those with Duchenne live longer, stronger lives.
When: Saturday, Aug. 17
- 5K Run/Walk, 8:30am
- Kids for Kids Run, 9:30am, (new in 2019, along with the Super Heroes, Princesses from Royal Arrivals will also run alongside the kids.)
Where: Downtown Rockford, Michigan
Go here to register.
