It’s Big Red Roll & Stroll time, the MDNSW flagship fund raising event that is happening at Parramatta Park, Sydney on June 23, 2024, from 10am to 3pm.
Participants can challenge themselves to run, roll or stroll virtually or through the 3km loop around Parramatta Park, followed by celebrations at the event village with food, drinks, live music, games, merchandise, and prizes to be won.
The Big Red Roll & Stroll is designed to spread awareness about rare neuromuscular conditions and raise funds to support programs and events to help families living with these conditions. Since 2020, the event has raised over $224,971, with over 500 community participants.
To promote this year’s campaign, MDNSW has rallied ambassadors from the neuromuscular community, including 9-year-old John and his mother, Bryony. MDNSW has been integral in supporting them on their journey with John’s diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare genetic disorder characterised by progressive muscle weakness and deterioration.
“I’d love it if people could get involve with fundraising for Big Red Roll & Stroll, because the money donated goes directly to helping families like us,” Briony said. “Knowing that other people are fundraising for stuff like this just really helps because it’s not an easy thing for John or us to go through.”
There are 40,000 people with a neuromuscular condition in Australia, with approximately 13,000 in New South Wales.
Muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular conditions can affect people at different stages from birth to adulthood with common symptoms being loss of muscle strength and function, loss of mobility, pain and fatigue.
Fundraising participants can participate virtually across Australia, by registering on the online portal, setting up teams and creating their own local event and receive a free beanie when they register.
Registrations for the Big Red Roll & Stroll are open now. For more information, visit: https://www.team-md.org.au/event/big-red-roll-stroll-2024/
Photo: Joshua Ryan and Caz.