Alderman's Cross-Country Motorcycle Ride Will Benefit Charity

Ever since he could drive, Oak Creek Alderman Jim Ruetz has been a motorcycle guy.

He got his first bike around the age of 15 or 16 and has been riding ever since. Two years ago, he took a "bucket list" ride to Alaska—combining two long-held dreams of doing a long motorcycle ride and visiting Alaska.

But the journey wasn't just for his own personal fulfillment. After seeing Clay Matthews in a commercial talking about Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which affects more than 300,000 boys worldwide, he decided to use the ride to raise money for CureDuchenne.

Ruetz ended up raising $10,000 that year. And this summer, Ruetz will embark on another ride for CureDuchenne with the hopes of doubling that amount.

The "Cajun-Parrot Run" will begin June 5 and span 12 days, 12 states and 4,000 miles. The ride got its name from its two major stops: New Orleans and Key West, Fla.

"We want to give hope to the boys living with Duchenne," Ruetz said. "There is currently no cure for this deadly disease, but the research looks promising."

Duchenne is a progressive, muscle-wasting disease that forces many of the children affected into wheelchairs by their teens. They often don't live to see much of their adulthood, Ruetz said.

He said he likes CureDuchenne's tight focus on finding a cure for the disease and said big progress has been made.

Debra Miller, founder and chief executive officer of CureDuchenne, said the organization urgently needs the public's help to accelerate the development of new treatments.

"We appreciate Jim's adventurous spirit and creative fundraisers like the Cajun-Parrot Run to spread the word about Duchenne in order to find a cure," Miller said.

• Donations for Ruetz's ride for Duchenne muscular dystrophy can be made online.

Ruetz's tentative plan is to head south to New Orleans and travel along the Gulf Coast before proceeding down the west coast of Florida and eventually to Key West. He'll then start making his way back up the east coast of Florida.

Ruetz will try to avoid problems like those in his 2011 trip, when his BMW motorcycle broke down in Seattle. He rented a Harley to complete the trip, which included a ferry through the Inside Passage and a trip down the Alaska Highway.

"It went well, but it wasn't without problems," Ruetz said.

Ruetz, who is president, general manager and part-owner of Franksville-based All Fasteners, has served on the Oak Creek Common Council since 2012. He's lived in the community for the past 26 years.