Ride for Kids! LCPerthes Foundation
Donation protected
At the age of 4 I was diagnosed with Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (LCPD), a avascular necrosis (AVN) of the proximal femoral head resulting from compromise of the tenuous blood supply to this area. Basically the blood supply to the femur head is cut off and the bone dies back. With proper diagnosis and therapy, which could include surgery and casting, the femur head can stabilize and 'grow in'. Unfortunately most of the time it 'grows back' flat, causing one leg to be shorter and the affected hip to have on and off pain over a lifetime. The end result is restricted movement and eventual hip replacement.
I remember the doctors telling me that I'd have to be in a wheelchair for a couple of years and have to wear a brace. At the ripe old age of 6 I was finally allowed to be a kid and do the things kids did, but had to be careful to manage the pain and possible impact that sports or 'rough housing' might have on my mobility. It's scary for a kid of 5 or 6. The thought of 'being better' was so far out of sight I never imaged being normal again.
Coming up in June, I'll be heading to Europe to ride a bike from Amsterdam to Giverny, France and from Frankfurt back to Amsterdam! A cool 1000 km's!! My goal is to inspire the kids of today that have been diagnosed with LCPD, to let them know that there is hope. That there is a future ahead of them to do anything they want to do. To play sports. To climb trees. To ride a bike anywhere they want to go.
By donating to my GoFundMe page, you will be helping to defer the costs of the upcoming LCPD conference in October in the Dallas, TX area. Colleen Rathgeber, Foundation Director, is bringing together some of the best doctors in the country to discuss treatment, diagnosis, study, research, community, family and more.
Won't you give $10, $20, $50? More? With such a rare disease (2:20,000), they need all the help they can get! Thanks!
I remember the doctors telling me that I'd have to be in a wheelchair for a couple of years and have to wear a brace. At the ripe old age of 6 I was finally allowed to be a kid and do the things kids did, but had to be careful to manage the pain and possible impact that sports or 'rough housing' might have on my mobility. It's scary for a kid of 5 or 6. The thought of 'being better' was so far out of sight I never imaged being normal again.
Coming up in June, I'll be heading to Europe to ride a bike from Amsterdam to Giverny, France and from Frankfurt back to Amsterdam! A cool 1000 km's!! My goal is to inspire the kids of today that have been diagnosed with LCPD, to let them know that there is hope. That there is a future ahead of them to do anything they want to do. To play sports. To climb trees. To ride a bike anywhere they want to go.
By donating to my GoFundMe page, you will be helping to defer the costs of the upcoming LCPD conference in October in the Dallas, TX area. Colleen Rathgeber, Foundation Director, is bringing together some of the best doctors in the country to discuss treatment, diagnosis, study, research, community, family and more.
Won't you give $10, $20, $50? More? With such a rare disease (2:20,000), they need all the help they can get! Thanks!
Organizer and beneficiary
Eric Mccrystal
Organizer
Redwood City, CA
Colleen Rathgeber
Beneficiary