With his helmet firmly fastened, little Hunter Hawken is ready to roll.
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The eight-year-old has Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a degenerative muscle disorder that will see him lose the ability to use his arms and legs.
Despite having trouble using his muscles and spending much of his time in a wheelchair, Hunter can currently walk unaided.
This week, he got himself onto the back of three-wheel motorcycle – the trike he’ll be riding on in this year’s i98FM Illawarra Convoy.
The 2016 event, on November 20, has changed its name from the i98FM Camp Quality Convoy to the i98FM Illawarra Convoy.
The move reflects the event’s desire to broaden its reach and support a range of charities and individuals.
That extended reach means kids like Hunter can now take part, much to his delight and that of his mum, Rebecca Darby.
Ms Darby was feeling a mixture of emotions as she watched him get comfortable on the back of Kevin English’s trike this week.
Hunter was thrilled, saying his Convoy experience would be “pretty cool”. He is looking forward to being part of event because it “sounds really, really fun”.
Despite experiencing some understandable nerves ahead of Convoy day, Ms Darby was “happy and excited” about the awareness it would raise for DMD.
“The way we found out was through Google and it was the most horrific way to find out,” she told the Mercury.
Taking a guy like Hunter on the back of the bike in Convoy is going to be a lifelong memory for him
- Kevin English
“There’s not much support out there for a terminal illness like this that affects 3200 boys, it’s absolutely horrible.”
Hunter has long wanted to jump aboard a motorcycle, but his condition means he lacks the strength to hold himself up. Until now, that is – enter the trike.
“One of these bikes [a trike] will be good to be able to support him,” she said.
Mr English, who has Huntington’s disease, will take part in Convoy for the fourth time this year and said the kids’ smiling faces gave him a sense of pride.
“It’s another day without a worry. It sort of takes them away from all that hardship that they deal with every day,” he said.
“Taking a guy like Hunter on the back of the bike in Convoy is going to be a lifelong memory for him.”
Businesses and the community have been asked to dig deep and help Hunter lead the Convoy bike pack. If you can help, contact Dave Drain on 0467 558 684 or find donation details at facebook.com/MtKemblaConvoy.