{"id":11798,"date":"2014-05-05T07:04:09","date_gmt":"2014-05-05T14:04:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mr66givry2.onrocket.site\/?post_type=family-stories&p=11798"},"modified":"2025-12-30T07:05:26","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T15:05:26","slug":"river-s-ride-father-and-son-cycle-across-iowa-dm","status":"publish","type":"family-stories","link":"https:\/\/myotonic.org\/de\/family-stories\/river-s-ride-father-and-son-cycle-across-iowa-dm\/","title":{"rendered":"River\u2019s Ride: Father and Son Cycle Across Iowa for DM"},"content":{"rendered":"
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May 5th, 2014<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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As part of MDF\u2019s Dash & Dine fundraising program, Eric Jensen and his three-year-old son River will be cycling through the state of Iowa in the Des Moines Register\u2019s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI), July 20-26. The Jensens are dedicating their journey to families affected by DM. River’s Ride will raise funds for MDF while educating and informing the public about the disorder. Both River and his mother Taylor have DM1.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to inspire hope for a cure for all those affected by DM,\u201d says Eric. \u201cOur family is so blessed that we\u2019re able to go on this adventure together. We know that many people living with DM are not as fortunate as we are, and so we ride in their honor.\u201d The Jensens will be documenting their bicycle ride online so that the DM community and others can be a part of the adventure. With more than 10,000 RAGBRAI participants and thousands more volunteers and spectators, River\u2019s Ride intends to educate the public about DM throughout Iowa and beyond.<\/p>\n

Eric\u2019s wife Taylor was diagnosed with DM1 shortly after River was born. After a wonderful pregnancy and delivery experience, Taylor suffered muscle weakness and was ultimately referred to a neurologist, who diagnosed her with DM. River was then tested and diagnosed shortly before his first birthday. \u201cIt brings you to your knees,\u201d says Eric. \u201cTaylor\u2019s diagnosis was so difficult, especially for me, and then for River to be diagnosed with DM, it was devastating.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shaken at first, the Jensens took some time to let the diagnosis sink in, but in a few short months they were learning everything they could about DM. That\u2019s when they came upon MDF, finding much needed support and up-to-date information on myotonic dystrophy. The Jensens have since begun holding annual fundraisers for\u00a0 MDF. \u201cIt was important to us that MDF not only provided support and information for families but also focused on funding research.\u201d The Jensens were especially interested in the funding of scientific fellowships specifically dedicated to DM research. Eric Jensen is a veterinarian and explains, \u201cAs a scientist and clinician, I know the importance of funding research, especially young DM researchers. MDF\u2019s Fund-a-Fellow program provides up and coming scientists with opportunities to work with experienced principal investigators, seeding the future of DM research and helping discover and advance new therapies.“<\/p>\n

Since finding MDF in 2012, the Jensens have been 100 percent committed to helping find a cure. \u201cIt is our coping mechanism,\u201d say the Jensens. Eric however admits he still feels great anxiety about what the future may hold for his wife and son. \u201cThe unknown is the most difficult thing for me, but my wife Taylor is the rock in this family and she always reminds me how incredibly fortunate we are – she keeps me going,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

The Jensens live in San Diego, California, however Eric was born and raised in Iowa. „It is a wonderful place – I have many fond memories of growing up in Iowa and have dreamed of sharing my home state with my son,\u201d Eric says affectionately. \u201cFor years my friends have talked about RAGBRAI and I\u2019ve always wanted to participate in the ride. This seemed like the perfect opportunity for us all,\u201d he says. \u201cThe chance to experience Iowa on a bike is perfect! There\u2019s no better way to smell the corn fields, feel the humidity and meet the incredibly kind and hospitable people of Iowa than on a bicycle riding across the state.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taylor will drive the route with Eric\u2019s sister Becka and her family,\u00a0and camp out along the way. River will have mom, Aunt Becka and family to provide a nice respite when he’s ready to get off the bicycle during the 418 mile cycling event, while giving him the chance to play with his cousins along the way. Eric\u2019s other Iowa family members will support Eric and River throughout the route and help spread the word about DM and River\u2019s Ride.<\/p>\n

An avid bicyclist, Eric rides his bicycle to work each day as Managing Veterinarian for the US Navy Marine Mammal Program. In preparation for River\u2019s Ride in Iowa, Eric and River ride about 30 miles each weekend. \u201cKeeping River enthusiastic about getting on the bike has been a priority so we sing and talk along the way and we especially like taking in the wildlife and nature you can only see by bicycle.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked what Eric wants for his son\u2019s future, Eric says tenderly, \u201cI want him to grow up and live a fulfilling life full of wonder. I want him to be able to pursue his every passion in life.\u201d Eric says of his son, \u201cRiver is a very physically active and animated little boy who loves the water and outdoors and I don\u2019t want that to change. I want a cure for River and other children and families affected by DM.\u201d The Jensens say encouragingly, \u201cResearchers are close to promising clinical trials and possibly successful treatments. We\u2019re committed to helping play a role in making that happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Learn how to start your own grassroots fundraising effort.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":11799,"template":"","class_list":["post-11798","family-stories","type-family-stories","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myotonic.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/family-stories\/11798","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myotonic.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/family-stories"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myotonic.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/family-stories"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myotonic.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11799"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myotonic.org\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11798"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}