Party with a purpose
Picnic in Park will mark decade fighting Duchenne
John Owen Dumm, 13, has been battling Duchenne, a rare form of muscular dystrophy, for nearly 10 years. The annual Picnic in the Park proceeds are used to fuel research to end the disease, and that research is beginning to make headway. John Owen is holding his service dog Larry. Submitted photo
NORTH ROYALTON – Ten years ago, Jen and Tony Dumm’s lives forever changed.
That’s when their 4-year-old son John Owen was diagnosed with the rare muscle killer known as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
After scouring the internet desperately trying to understand the disease, they were told the best way to help their son was to raise money and lots of it.
John Owen’s Adventure Inc. was born, a nonprofit organization that for 10 years has been unifying the community through the JOA Picnic in the Park. Since the first picnic, with the help of the community, they have put $450,000 into the hands of scientists to research and develop not only treatments but find a cure. That research is making strides.
Jen Dumm said some of that research, fueled by the community’s generosity, has gone from mice to men. John Owen is still part of the Eteplirsen trial and receives this genetic modifying infusion weekly and is improving.
“We continue to see improvements in him and are grateful his major organs are extremely stable at the age of 13, rejoice!” she said.
More than finding a cure, the Dumm family knows all too well how precious life is so the picnic is meant to celebrate life through the numerous activities planned to unite families for a night of fun.
Admission is free for this event hosted 4-10 p.m. July 8 at German Central, 7863 York Road in Parma. The annual picnic includes food, games, live music, wine pull, raffles and prizes.
For the kids, there’s a Nerf Battle, and players should bring their own dart guns and safety glasses. If Nerf isn’t their thing, there will be pinball machines, and Jungle Terry will have his exotic animals for picnickers to explore up close from 7:30-8:30 p.m. There will also be a wide array of kid games.
For adults, there is a hole-in-one contest from 5-8:45 p.m., bingo, sideboards, a wine pull, silent auction, 7/11 high rollers and a massive raffle with big ticket prizes totaling more than $30,000 combined. Victory Highway will perform from 6-10 p.m.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a picnic without food and drink.
Fire Truck Pizza Co., Dairy Queen, Famous Dave’s and Mama Mia’s Foods will be onsite with delicious eats for purchase. There will also be a beer truck and a full bar to wash it all down.
The money raised from this event is making headway.
There is a therapy on the horizon that shows significant promise in potentially ending the war on Duchenne, so the family said through this annual event, they will be doing everything they can, with the community’s help, to support it.
“Criper Cas 10 is a gene therapy that can end this disease. Yes I said, end Duchenne. Currently this technology is still in mice,” Dumm said. “Our goal is to raise $50,000 at our Picnic in the Park. From $1 to $10,000 every single dollar will make a huge dent in our goal. We can’t stop until we end Duchenne. We will derail Duchenne with our North Royalton community.”
That’s when their 4-year-old son John Owen was diagnosed with the rare muscle killer known as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
After scouring the internet desperately trying to understand the disease, they were told the best way to help their son was to raise money and lots of it.
John Owen’s Adventure Inc. was born, a nonprofit organization that for 10 years has been unifying the community through the JOA Picnic in the Park. Since the first picnic, with the help of the community, they have put $450,000 into the hands of scientists to research and develop not only treatments but find a cure. That research is making strides.
Jen Dumm said some of that research, fueled by the community’s generosity, has gone from mice to men. John Owen is still part of the Eteplirsen trial and receives this genetic modifying infusion weekly and is improving.
“We continue to see improvements in him and are grateful his major organs are extremely stable at the age of 13, rejoice!” she said.
More than finding a cure, the Dumm family knows all too well how precious life is so the picnic is meant to celebrate life through the numerous activities planned to unite families for a night of fun.
Admission is free for this event hosted 4-10 p.m. July 8 at German Central, 7863 York Road in Parma. The annual picnic includes food, games, live music, wine pull, raffles and prizes.
For the kids, there’s a Nerf Battle, and players should bring their own dart guns and safety glasses. If Nerf isn’t their thing, there will be pinball machines, and Jungle Terry will have his exotic animals for picnickers to explore up close from 7:30-8:30 p.m. There will also be a wide array of kid games.
For adults, there is a hole-in-one contest from 5-8:45 p.m., bingo, sideboards, a wine pull, silent auction, 7/11 high rollers and a massive raffle with big ticket prizes totaling more than $30,000 combined. Victory Highway will perform from 6-10 p.m.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a picnic without food and drink.
Fire Truck Pizza Co., Dairy Queen, Famous Dave’s and Mama Mia’s Foods will be onsite with delicious eats for purchase. There will also be a beer truck and a full bar to wash it all down.
The money raised from this event is making headway.
There is a therapy on the horizon that shows significant promise in potentially ending the war on Duchenne, so the family said through this annual event, they will be doing everything they can, with the community’s help, to support it.
“Criper Cas 10 is a gene therapy that can end this disease. Yes I said, end Duchenne. Currently this technology is still in mice,” Dumm said. “Our goal is to raise $50,000 at our Picnic in the Park. From $1 to $10,000 every single dollar will make a huge dent in our goal. We can’t stop until we end Duchenne. We will derail Duchenne with our North Royalton community.”