Jim Ruetz to Embark on the Cajun-Parrot Run, a 4,000-Mile Motorcycle Trip to Raise Funds to Find a Cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

OAK CREEK, WIS., April 25, 2013 – Jim Ruetz of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, will embark on a 4,000-mile, 12-day motorcycle trip across 12 states in the Cajun-Parrot Run to benefit CureDuchenne, a nonprofit that raises awareness and funds research to find a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Ruetz starts his journey on June 5 from Oak Creek. In route, he’ll stop in New Orleans, his furthest waypoint is Key West, Fla., Ruetz will make his way back to Wisconsin on or near June 18.

This is not the first time Ruetz, a local business man and Oak Creek Alderman, has traveled on the open road to benefit CureDuchenne. In 2011, Ruetz took a “bucket list” ride trip to Alaska. He covered more than 7,000 miles, 10 states, provinces, and territories in the U.S. and Canada. He helped raise $10,000 for CureDuchenne. Duchenne is a progressive muscle-wasting disease that impacts 1 in 3,500 boys. Boys are usually diagnosed by 5, in a wheelchair by 12 and most don’t survive their mid-20s.

“I encourage you to join me in my journey by helping to raise awareness and funds for CureDuchenne,” said Ruetz. “We want to give hope to the boys living with Duchenne. There is currently no cure for this deadly disease but the research looks promising.”     

Ruetz hopes to double the funds raised for Duchenne in 2011 to $20,000 for this year’s Cajun-Parrot Run. Anyone wishing to support the Cajun-Parrot run can donate on the CureDuchenne website.  Everyone who contributes at the pirate level or above will receive a “Cajun-Parrot Run” t-shirt and will automatically be entered in a drawing for a Clay Matthews signed Green Bay Packers’ Jersey. Click here  or go to:

http://support.cureduchenne.org/site/PageNavigator/Cajun_Run.html

“Real progress toward a cure is being made but we urgently need the public’s continued support to help us accelerate the development of new treatments for Duchenne,” said Debra Miller, founder and CEO of CureDuchenne. “We appreciate Jim’s adventurous spirit and creative fundraisers like the Cajun-Parrot Run to spread the word about Duchenne in order to find a cure.” 

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About CureDuchenne

CureDuchenne is a national nonprofit organization located in Newport Beach, Calif., dedicated to finding a cure for Duchenne, the most common and most lethal form of muscular dystrophy. As the leading genetic killer of young boys, Duchenne affects more than 300,000 boys worldwide. CureDuchenne has garnered international attention for its efforts to raise funds and awareness for Duchenne through venture philanthropy. With the help of CureDuchenne’s distinguished international panel of Scientific Advisors, funds raised by CureDuchenne support the most promising research aimed at treating and curing Duchenne. To date, seven CureDuchenne research projects have made their way into human clinical trials – a unique accomplishment as few health-related nonprofits have been successful in being a catalyst for human clinical trials.

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