- Pin it
- SubscribeUnsubscribe
- Embed
Ballou Skies hasn't added a story.
About Our Team
Ryan Ballou has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and formed Ballou Skies with his father to provide funds to map the hearts of boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
MD weakens all muscles. Without a cure, the most important muscle, the heart, will fail. If we can look at numerous hearts and map the progression of scarring and the weakening of this vital muscle we can hopefully extend lives until there is a cure.
By streghtening hearts, we are lengthing lives.
100% of the money raised by BallouSkies goes to trial at the Ohio State University Heart Clinic where this life-saving research is taking place.
The Chicago chapter of Ballou Skies -- the Ballou Skies Chi Tri Team -- is in its third year. Started by Ryan's cousin, a Chicago resident, it continues the mission of Ballou Skies, raising money and spreading awareness throughout the Midwest.
The team competes in triathlons throughout the summer. Our largest race is the Chicago Triathlon which sees over 9,000 participants from 46 states and 18 different countries. Each team member raises money for this cause, all of which goes directly to the 501c3 charity.
As Ryan told the team, "when you finish the race, remember, you aren’t just pushing yourself physically, you are pushing life-saving research forward."
To join us contact ballouskieschi@gmail.com or visit the Ballou Skies website.
About Muscular Dystrophy
- MD is a degenerative muscle disorder that affects all muscles within the body.
- MD weakens the musculosketal system and hampers movement.
- MD is a mutation in the dystrophin gene, an important structural component within muscle tissue that provides structural stability to muscles and cells. The normal human has dystrophin coating all of their muscles. People with Beckett’s MD have 40% of the normal amount of dystrophin, people with Duchenne MD have ZERO dystrophin. Without dystrophin, the body starts attacking muscles because it does not recognize the muscle without that important coating. This leads to their destruction.
- Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy or DMD is the type of MD that Ryan has. There are over 40 different variations with this type of muscular dystrophy which only affects boys.
- Symptoms usually appear in male children before age 6 and may be visible in early infancy
- Weakness of the legs and pelvis associated with a loss of muscle mass is observed first. Eventually this weakness spreads to the arms, neck, and other areas.
- Most patients are wheelchair dependent by age 12
- The average life expectancy for patients afflicted with DMD is around 25
- MD is an x-linked disease, so while women cannot be afflicted with Duchenne, they can pass it on to their children. (Women can have other types of MD)
Highlights
See all activity25Activity
Delete media item?
Delete this item from the media gallery? It will also be deleted from any related story update.
Set as ?
The campaign video will appear in social media and email.
The campaign cover picture will appear in social media and email.
The will appear at the top of your campaign page and in social media and email.
Reset ?
It will be removed from the top of your campaign and won't be used as default in social media and email. The will remain in the media gallery.
Embed
Share a link
Delete update
Delete this story update?
Any pictures or videos will remain in the campaign's media gallery.
Report campaign
Report submitted
Thank you. We take reports like yours very seriously. Our goal is to keep the community safe.
Please know that we may contact you for more information, but that we won't notify you personally of our decision. If the campaign remains available within a few days, it's likely that we determined it not to be in violation of our policies.
Thank you. We've already received your previous report. If the campaign remains available within a few days, it's likely that we determined it not to be in violation of our policies.
Tell us about the problem. Please fill in both fields below.
Record a video
Upload a video
Nothing grabs attention for your cause like a personal video. Take a minute or two to record one now. Record a short video message of support. Or upload one from your device. You can preview or redo your video before you post it.
Nothing grabs attention for your cause like a personal video. Upload a short video message of support. Upload a short video message of support. Or record one right now.
- Most effective video length: about a minute.
- Maximum length: 5 min.
- You can preview or redo your video before you post it.
Heads up! The existing video will be replaced.
Email your friends
Join our team
Tell people why our cause matters to you. Your personal message will encourage others to help. Easy, effective, optional.
Say it in video
Short personal videos by supporters like you are incredibly powerful. Record one right now and you'll help us raise more money. Easy, optional, effective.
Add a personal goal
Set a personal fundraising goal. You'll encourage more contributions if you do. And rest easy. There's no obligation to achieve your goal or bad consequences if you don't. Easy, optional, effective.
We have a video!
Video thumbnail
We'd love to show you our campaign video. Want to take a look?
, you're already on the team.