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Last weekend, the second annual Ride for Casey’s Cure was held at the Elks Lodge in LaGrange.

The motorcycle/Jeep ride was organized by the Red Knights Motorcycle Club and it raised $1,500 toward muscular dystrophy research.

The funds from the ride will be used to send Casey Duffield, a local nurse, to researchers in Arizona to submit a second tissue sample. Duffield has an ultra-rare and debilitating form of muscular dystrophy called Hereditary Myopathy with Early Respiratory Failure (HMERF).

We’ve written about her story several times. Casey actually became a nurse to become a full-time caregiver for her dad, who passed away from HMERF. Initially, she was told not to be concerned about HMERF as it only impacted men. However, she began having symptoms after turning 30 and was later diagnosed with the disease. 

HMERF is so rare that only about a dozen people in the world are known to have it.

The Casey’s Cure foundation was created when they were unable to find any advocacy groups for HMERF. The goal of the nonprofit is to raise awareness about HMERF and raise funds for muscular dystrophy research.

The ride again showed the generosity of this community. Duffield as a nurse has taken care of so many people in this community and our loved ones. Now, this community is doing its part to take care of her, and she’s noticed.

“It inspires us to keep to keep moving forward,” Duffield said. “It offers me hope that people care. That’s not always the case. That’s probably not what I should say, but hope isn’t always something that everybody has. So, it inspires me to continue having hope.”

There’s still money to be raised, and opportunities continue to help Casey’s Cure. 

Tickets to win a Smith and Wesson M&P handgun are still available for purchase through Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. Up to 100 tickets are being sold in the gun raffle at $50 each. Contact Josh Duffield at (848) 992-1049 to purchase tickets or for more information.