Mitchell's Run raises over $70,000

ROCKFORD, Mich. (WOOD) - Hundreds turned out Saturday to support Mitchell Peterson and families d...  More »

ROCKFORD, Mich. (WOOD) - Hundreds turned out Saturday to support Mitchell Peterson and families dealing with Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy. Over 1,800 runners showed up in downtown Rockford and ran in the 11th annual Mitchell's Run thru Rockford. 24 Hour News 8's Larry Figurski emceed the 5k run/walk. Proceeds from the event go to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, a non-profit support group run by parents who have children with Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy. This year, the event raised $77,000; more than $600,000 has been raised since the event's started. According to MDA.org : "Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle wasting and weakness that begins with microscopic changes in the muscle. As muscles degenerate over time, the person’s muscle strength declines. In Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), boys begin to show signs of muscle weakness as early as age 3. The disease gradually weakens the skeletal, or voluntary, muscles, those in the arms, legs and trunk. By the early teens or even earlier, the boy’s heart and respiratory muscles also may be affected."  « Less