Marty and Geri Karlin started the foundation, Rally for Ryan, shortly after their son Ryan (a fourth grader) was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in April of 2008. Marty, who also sits on the board of Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, said that he and his wife had no choice after Ryan’s diagnosis, but to take action: “When Ryan was diagnosed in 2008, we went through what every parent dealing with this disorder goes through. We were devastated and we felt like our world had come crashing down around us. But then we realized, it is our duty as Ryan’s parents to do everything we can to help the experts find a cure. We formed Rally for Ryan as a vehicle by which we could inform our friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers about Duchenne. And as a way for them to make a donation knowing that their gift would go directly into the projects that are aggressively trying to end Duchenne. Each year Rally for Ryan proves more successful than the last, and we are incredibly optimistic about this third anniversary Gala Event & Raffle.”

This year’s event will be emceed by CLTV’s Dolly McCarthy and will feature a performance by the band “Over the Limit”, an exclusive raffle, and an auction hosted by Joel Langer. The goal of the evening is not just to raise awareness and funds for Duchenne research, says Karlin. “This is a night about having fun, making new friends, reconnecting with neighbors, and doing it all for an important, urgent cause.”

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy’s Founder and President, Pat Furlong, is grateful to the Karlin family for hosting this annual event. “PPMD is only as strong as the families that support us, “ she said, “And the Karlins have been champions of this community since their beautiful son Ryan was diagnosed in 2008. As a community, we would rather not have Duchenne in our lives, in our families. But if you are diagnosed with this disorder, there is a comfort knowing that people like Marty and Geri are part of this community and are fighting beside you – not just for their son, but for all of our sons.”

Grants provided to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy from Rally for Ryan, in the past year alone, have funded a variety of research projects including cardiac initiatives at Ohio State University and University of California – Los Angeles, and upregulating utrophin at University of Pennsylvania. Cardiac care is extremely important in patients with Duchenne because the heart is a muscle too. The Karlins were quick to support Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy’s cardiac campaign launched at the beginning of 2011. For more information on the Rally for Ryan Gala Event & Raffle, visit RallyforRyan.org. And visit Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy to learn more about Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

About Duchenne muscular dystrophy Duchenne, the most common form of childhood muscular dystrophy, is a progressive and fatal muscle disorder affecting boys and young men that causes the loss of muscle function, wheelchair dependency and a decline in respiratory and cardiac function.

About Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy Duchenne is a fatal genetic disorder that slowly robs young men of their muscle strength. Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy’s mission is to end Duchenne.

We invest deeply in treatments for this generation of young men affected by Duchenne and in research that will benefit future generations. We advocate in Washington, DC, and have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in funding. We demand optimal care, and we strengthen, unite, and educate the global Duchenne community.

Everything we do—and everything we have done since our founding in 1994—helps boys with Duchenne live longer, stronger lives. We will not rest until every young man has a treatment to end Duchenne. Go to www.ParentProjectMD.org for more information or to learn how you can support our efforts and help families affected by Duchenne. About Rally for Ryan Rally for Ryan is dedicated to finding a cure for this devastating disease. 100% of all money raised will go to researcher’s that are diligently trying to find treatments and ultimately a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This dreadful disease took Ryan’s uncle Patrick from us at age 17, and we are committed to making sure this disease does not get passed down to another generation. With your generosity and support, our vision to find a cure for Ryan and other boys can become a reality.

Rally for Ryan is a Public charity, started to help a lot of boys. And with PPMD we go to Washington and we make a lot of noise.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a Genetic disease that destroys muscles, and with your wonderful help, we will continue to hustle.

There have been some great developments, since we were here last year. Your Money has gone to researchers, but we are not just yet ready to cheer.

They are working diligently to make the kids much stronger, and if their theories are correct they will also walk much longer.

Ryan continues to be an active kid which is a very good thing, and the Blackhawks winning the Stanley cup really made him sing.

Ryan scored his first goal in soccer, a couple of weeks ago. As I stood there with tears of joy, I hoped there would be many more.

But to our delight he knocked another goal in, I’ve never seen a kid happier, as you can tell by his Giant Grin.

Ryan has a great group of friends that are very big and unbelievable kids, I feel very sorry for anyone who tries to pick on him.

Lauren, Brittany, and Cassidy are so supportive and part of the Rally for Ryan Team, and they will play with Ryan until he makes them scream. Our Committee Members worked so hard, and you all were such a pleasure. I can’t thank you all enough for finding all these treasures.

To our extended families you’re the reason we continue to shine, so please all sit back and drink a lot of wine.

We are trying to get on more corporate matching programs, so if any of you might know. Maybe you can point us in the right direction and tell us where to go.

This poem is almost over, even though it was fun to write, and I will not rest until a cure is in my sight.

I hope you all enjoy yourselves this will be a lot of fun, with a comedian, and auction guy, and a band, we have something for everyone.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for being here tonight, as Rally for Ryan continues this very difficult fight.

Even Though this is not a wedding, I ask that you raise your glass for a prayer, Let’s pray to god to keep all kids healthy and to have a cure by next year. ]]> http://rallyforryan.org/2011/09/a-fathers-poem-2010/feed/ 0 http://rallyforryan.org/2011/09/a-fathers-poem-2009/ http://rallyforryan.org/2011/09/a-fathers-poem-2009/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 18:09:40 +0000 admin http://rallyforryan.org/?p=378 Continue reading →]]> This Fathers poem was difficult to write, as Rally for Ryan begins its long fight.

Ryan Karlin is the youngest of four, With three older sisters the girls will love him even more.

His three sisters are great, what more can I say, If we could just stop time, I’d keep it this way.

Ryan loves golf, soccer, and baseball, as well as other things, But playing with his friends really makes him sing.

On the field he wasn’t the fastest, but we just assumed that he would get past this.

You know that this poem is going to sink, so if you would please hang on to your drink.

On April 15, 2008, after the second blood test, we found out the news that wasn’t the best.

Our son has Duchenne, a form of Muscular Dystrophy, Which makes you not walk as you approach your teens.

Geri’s brother Patrick died at 17, another victim of the horrible disease. Every morning when Ryan takes his medicine, he counts down from ten, After he gags he gives us a grin.

He does like to swim which is the best therapy, So we built an indoor pool which is not too shabby.

I am not trying to make us all sad, but we need a cure very, very bad.

They have been working on this disease for 50 years, but in the last three we started to cheer.

Researchers are making progress at an amazing rate, but we need a cure before it’s to late.

Rally for Ryan was started to raise money for them,
So they can fix this problem so it does not happen again.

Thank you so much for your donations, and your support has been overwhelming at the very least, now it is time to kill this Muscular dystrophy beast.

This Fathers poem is ending but the fight has just begun, I want to see my son walking until he has his own son. ]]> http://rallyforryan.org/2011/09/a-fathers-poem-2009/feed/ 0 http://rallyforryan.org/2011/08/what-is-dmd/ http://rallyforryan.org/2011/08/what-is-dmd/#comments Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:56:42 +0000 admin http://rallyforryan.org/?p=28 Continue reading →]]> DMD is a genetic disease, which effects 1 in 3500 boys. DMD is the most common fatal genetic disorder to affect boys. There is currently no cure. Most DMD kids die in their late teens or early twenties. DMD is associated with respiratory failure, heart failure and debilitating orthopedic complications. Boys experience degenerative muscle weakness and loss of ambulation by age 12.