"Irish" Bike Ride Makes Hopkins
County, Thursday Morning

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

While "Cowboy Chris" is nearing his goal in New York City, this week, another travel odyssey is reaching the "climax" of their epic journey, as the they traveled through Hopkins County on Thursday morning. They are "The Road to Discovery" Bike Ride, that is headed to a destination of Dallas, after completing 2,200 miles - 26 Days - 25 Cities - 12 States - with two bikes and One Main Goal.....finding a cure for Neimann-Pick Type C (NPC).

Dr. Greg Crawford, Dean of Notre Dame's College of Science, and his wife, Renate, began the journey on June 13th, in Boston, and are "right on target" to make their destination in Dallas, on July 8th, as they rode toward tonight's destination of Greenville.

 

 

 

 

 

Neimann-Pick Type C (NPC) is a lysosomal storage disease associated with an inherited metabolic disorder and is commonly found in children, but can affect people up to age 60 and over. Symptoms include enlargement of the organs, such as the liver and spleen, and reduces the appetite, and causes a number of abdominal distentions, pain, and suffering as it attacks the body. It attacks the central nervous system and eventually results in immobility and death.

Neimann-Pick Type C strikes an estimated 1 in 150,000 people, with almost half of the cases involving children under 10 years of age.

Dr. Crawford and the Notre Dame College of Sciences have joined the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation in a fight to find a cure for this disease. He and his wife, are no strangers to raising funds and riding bikes, for this cause. Last summer, they completed the "Desert to Dome" Bike Ride, in a 2,300 mile journey from Tucson, AZ to South Bend, Indiana, to begin awareness for this fight for a cure.

"We're committed to raising awareness and discovering effective treatment for the disease, as well as searching for a cure, to prevent anyone from having to deal with this dreadful disease," expressed Dr. Crawford, as he and his family made their way through downtown Sulphur Springs.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Crawford and his wife, Renate, were on the bikes and his children followed in a bright green van, promoting the cause that they were riding for.

"We've met some great, great people along the way and certainly brought the disease awareness to many, many people who had no idea about its symptoms and causes," related Dr. Crawford. "Most people are unaware of the disease, unless they become affected personally with its devastation!"

As the Crawfords exited town, out Old Highway-67, headed west, on the last "leg" of their journey, we wished them Godspeed and a safe two days to reach their goal!

For more information about the Crawfords journey and their fight for a cure for NPC, you can find their blog at roadtodiscovery.nd.edu.

 

 

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