Local athletes compete in triathlon, help family battle life-threatening disease

Last year, Danielle Braud James found out that her son Matthew, 4, has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic defect that will cause his muscles to progressively fail.

Boys with Duchenne MD are usually in a wheelchair by age 12 and only live into their twenties.

But Danielle, her husband Chris, and her family across St. Charles and Jefferson parishes banded together to do something helpful for Matthew.

Danielle and Chris founded RaceMD.com, a non-profit dedicated to finding intermediate therapies for DuchenneMD children so they can survive until a cure is found.

To further the James’ efforts, local athletes recently chipped in to further their cause by sponsoring RaceMD with their races.

During the New Olreans Ironman Triathlon on April 18, three RaceMD teams participated along with athlete Rick Crozier, on behalf of Gulf Coast Bank & Trust, to sponsor a fundraising effort to support both Matthew with RaceMD and Aidan, a little boy who suffered brain damage from an accident.

“It was overwhelming to be part of such an amazing event and our hearts are so grateful for all these athletes are doing for Matthew and all Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) boys around the world,” Danielle said after the race.

The atheletes who raced for RaceMD include Team 1: runner Francis Braud, Matthew’s grandfather, biker Tom Klotz and swimmer Dan Bode; Team 2: runner Randy Thibodaux, biker Jack Hayes and swimmer Rudy Smith; Team 3: runner Tiffany Pasaint, biker Keith DeMaggio and swimmer Mark Jolland; and athlete Rick Crozier.

“They are so close to helping these young boys. Our hope for Matthew’s miracle is that it happens in time to help him,” said Leslie Braud, Matthew’s grandmother.

Donations can still be made to help Matthew and other boys like him at www.RaceMD.com.

 

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