Grand Rapids
family hosts 40th annual golf outing fundraiser supporting Parent
Project Muscular Dystrophy
GRAND
RAPIDS, Mich., July 26,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- For 40 years, residents of
Grand Rapids, Michigan, have
supported the mission of Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD),
a nonprofit organization leading the fight to end Duchenne muscular
dystrophy (Duchenne), by participating in the annual Friar Fight to
End Duchenne Golf Tournament. Created and organized by the Friar
family in honor of their son Kyle (20) and in memory of their son
Kevin, who lost his fight with Duchenne in 2018 at 18 years old,
this event has raised more than $1,300,000 for PPMD since
its inception. The 40th Annual Friar Fight to End Duchenne Golf
Tournament will be held on Saturday, July
27, 2024.
The Friar Fight to End Duchenne Golf Tournament began in 1985
when Mike Friar convinced friends to
skip school the last Friday of their senior year at East Kentwood
High to play a two-man scramble at a local golf course. A tradition
began and the charity golf tournament was started.
The fundraising became personal for Mike and his wife DeAnne
when their sons were diagnosed with Duchenne, the most common
life-limiting genetic condition diagnosed in childhood, affecting
approximately one in every 5,000 live male births. In 2004, the
Friar Fight golf tournament focused its fundraising efforts to
benefit PPMD, along with a series of other fundraising events
hosted by the Friar family. Grand
Rapids residents also take part in the GR.1K each November,
which is also hosted by the Friar family and benefits PPMD.
"It's hard to believe it's been 40 years since we started this
event, and we're grateful to our community of friends and family
who've supported us over the years," said DeAnne Friar. "For us, it was only natural to
support PPMD, and we will continue to do so until every person with
Duchenne has access to the treatments they need."
"The Friar family and their amazing community have been an
inspiration and motivation to us all by selflessly raising money
and awareness for the fight to end Duchenne. Hosting their 40th
annual golf tournament is an incredible accomplishment and we
cannot thank them enough for their ongoing support. The Friar
family plays such an important role in our organization and I feel
blessed to have them in our PPMD family," said PPMD Founding
President and CEO Pat Furlong.
There are plenty of ways to join the Friar Fight! To learn more
about the golf tournament or the Friar's other fundraising events,
including how to donate, click here. For more about Parent Project
Muscular Dystrophy, visit parentprojectmd.org.
ABOUT PARENT PROJECT MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY
Duchenne is a genetic disorder that slowly robs people of
their muscle strength. Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy
(PPMD) fights every single battle necessary to end
Duchenne.
We demand optimal care standards and ensure every family has
access to expert healthcare providers, cutting edge treatments, and
a community of support. We invest deeply in treatments for this
generation of Duchenne patients and in research that will benefit
future generations. Our advocacy efforts have secured hundreds of
millions of dollars in funding and won eight FDA approvals.
Everything we do—and everything we have done since our founding
in 1994—helps those with Duchenne live longer, stronger lives. We
will not rest until we end Duchenne for every single person
affected by the disease. Join our fight against Duchenne at
EndDuchenne.org. Follow PPMD on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and
YouTube.
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SOURCE Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD)