Ryan's Story

My name is Ryan Ballou and I am twenty-two years old. I am currently employed and working towards a college degree in the near future. My family and I are also heavily involved with the Muscular Dystrophy Association and that is because since birth, I have been afflicted with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a degenerative muscle disorder that affects all muscles within the body. There are over 40 different variations with this type of muscular dystrophy which only affects boys. My family and I have had to cope with this disease and all of its complications my entire life. It is sometimes a challenge, but we always pull together and deal with whatever test is put in front of us from this disorder. However, we feel that it should not stop there. Not only can we deal with the disease, but we can also combat this disease by spreading awareness. As a family, we have volunteered at the MDA Labor Day Telethon for as long as I can remember. Also, I have given numerous speeches to parents of afflicted boys. Through this medium, I hope to spread awareness to these parents and let them know that there is hope. Nevertheless, my family and I believe that we could do something more to aid this cause. My father, Ty, along with our input, started a charity called BallouSkies to help spread more awareness and even raise money for research.

The amazing part of this whole story is that at age twenty-two, my heart is still healthy and functioning as it should. This is crucial because as time passes, all muscles are affected by Muscular Dystrophy, and as we all know, the heart is the most important muscle of all. Also, the risk of heart complications increases with each passing year. Not all boys that are affected by this disease are as fortunate as me to have a healthy heart. Many of these boys, some even younger than me, are facing heart problems or will at some point in their lives due to the disease. My family and I believe that this is a very important issue. If we could somehow slow down or even stop these heart complications, better treatment or maybe even a cure are very possible one day. The main focus of BallouSkies is to raise awareness for this research and gain funds to aid the heart clinic at Ohio State University (OSU). Here, Dr. Stephen Cook and his team of doctors are actually using MRI technology to scan the heart. The doctors take a patient with DMD and scan their heart. These MRI scans show the doctor a patient’s heart from every angle and every aspect of the heart can be scrutinized. At Ohio State’s clinic, they are testing boys of different ages with this technique. The goal of this is to check for scarring and other heart problems and then track these problems with future MRI’s. This would allow boys and their families to know if there is a complication before it may become untreatable. This can help DMD patients and anybody with heart problems. This research can lead to breakthroughs and may even aid in curing this incapacitating disorder along with many others.

This disease offers many challenges and complications, but with this treatment, we may be able to take some of the worry off of the families and the individuals actually suffering from this disorder. With this research, we could find treatments and learn even more from all of the data collected. Imagine longer life spans, and a better quality of life. This research, I feel, would be foolish to pass up. As I said, this research can lead to cutting edge treatments of any heart ailment, not just in those caused by Muscular Dystrophy. If we can help to slow down the deterioration of the heart, this may lead to other muscles and in turn could aid in finding a cure. As I have repeated, the heart is the powerhouse that runs our entire body and allows us to live. Therefore, I believe this is one of the most important avenues of research to follow.

One hundred percent of the money raised by BallouSkies goes to the heart clinic at OSU which allows them to perform the MRI procedure and collect the data. That is why my family and I are trying our hardest to raise awareness. I am almost positive that many who read this will agree with me and find that it would be a shame if this research could not take place. Please help my family and me to help, not only myself, but all boys affected by DMD and all those affected by other forms of Muscular Dystrophy. Every little bit helps and together we can achieve the main goal of healthier hearts and longer life spans. We can battle the disease together and through our efforts, gain insight and create treatments that could help counteract the affects of this debilitating disease.

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UPDATE: June 17th, 2010

Hey everyone! Lately there has been a lot going on with BallouSkies. I cannot believe we are already into July almost. The past two months I have been so busy with the BallouSkies team trying to raise more funds and awareness. This recent push was because of our first annual “We’ve Got the Beat” two mile benefit walk. This walk was our big fund raiser for the year and could not have gone better! I would like to thank everyone that came out and shared their time with us on June 12^th. All of the BallouSkies team, everyone that helped me to spread the word, and all of my family and friend. Without you guys this event would have never become a reality. We had about one-hundred or so people that came out to support our great cause. Everybody involved had a fantastic time and we could not have asked for a more beautiful day! The success of this event has pushed me to work harder. It is nice to see that all of my hard work has been paying off and more funds than ever are pouring into BallouSkies! With every dollar raised we are one step closer to helping others and one step closer to a victory, however small, over this debilitating disorder.

Let me go back in time a couple of months. The idea for the first annual benefit walk was first discussed and kicked around in April. From there we recruited Steeler’s quarterback Charlie Batch to come out and support the event and to draw more walkers to come out for the walk which was held on June 12^th. After the initial plans were laid the recruitment process began. Our biggest hurdle we had to overcome was the fact that not many people know about BallouSkies and the awesome things we are doing. I have spent the last few weeks going out and letting people know about the event, handing out flyers, and asking various businesses to display posters with the event information. With such a short time to work with before the event we had to try everything and work our hardest to get the word out to everyone about the event. I also appeared on PCNC’s “Night Talk” with Charlie Batch to reach more people and hopefully get them to come out on the day of the walk. All of this hard work definitely has paid off and I could not be happier with the outcome.I enjoy nothing more than to spend my time fighting for this cause. I light up when talking about BallouSkies and I feel as if I have a purpose. This charity has made it clear to me what I must spend my time doing. I must never give up and I must continue to use the time I have been given to do good.

One last thing I wanted to say about the walk. Our “celebrity walker” Charlie Batch gave us his time on June 12^th with no thought. He agreed to and went on the air with me on PCNC specifically to help out in every way he could with the benefit walk. He is a great guy and I am glad that BallouSkies can rely on him for help! I hope to work with him in the future. Also, my father and I will become more involved with Charlie’s own charities and programs. He truly is thoughtless and gives back to his community with no second thought. If everybody acted this way, the world would be a better place. He truly is a winning person and I hope to work with him far into the future! That is all for the update! Again thanks to everyone who was involved or helped out with the walk! Spread the word. Let people know. Next year I want hundreds of people at the walk! I am excited to see where the charity will go from here. The possibilities are exciting and we can do so much if we all work together. This first successful event is a springboard for many other fund raising possibilities. We can only go up from here and I am positive that our hard work is not in vain. We will be rewarded for our efforts!

Register for the 1st Ballou Skies "We've Got the Beat" Benefit Walk

UPDATE: May 24th, 2010

Finally summer is in sight! With all of these weather changes I never know what to wear outside anymore! We are getting into June though so the worst of it is well behind us. I feel the same way with the charity. The groundwork has been laid down before us and we now have now over a full year of experience with the charity, and we now have an opportunity to grow from these experiences. The hardest part of any charity is gaining support and getting your name out there. BallouSkies has gained a lot of support since the charity began. Thanks to our great family and friends we successfully, albeit, slowly helped the charity to flourish. And since this blueprint was laid before us we have taken leaps and bounds to spread even more awareness and funds for this vital research. With the peanut butter commercial, and numerous television spots on WPXI we are reaching more people than I first thought possible. I love doing these things for the charity. Nothing makes me happier than to get out there and help rally support for BallouSkies. When the charity first began I was unsure what to think and I did not know where the charity would end up. I am extremely pleased that I have been able to get my voice heard and really become involved in such a great cause. I have strangers coming up to me when I am running errands or just around town and they tell me that I am doing a great job and the charity is a great achievement. This makes me proud and almost makes dealing with this disease worthwhile. With this disease I sometimes find it hard to find any hope and I would not wish this upon anyone. However, the charity has renewed my hope for a cure and for possible treatments that could curb the disease’s progression. I am glad that I have finally found something that can assist me in literally tackling this disease head on.

Onto a lighter note, this past week on May 18th I celebrated my 23rd birthday! My dad threw me a surprise party! All of my family and my friends were there and all of the BallouSkies team! It was a good night of laughs and conversation. It is nice to sit back and just reflect on where the charity is and the endless possibilities for the future! For those of you who may not have the pleasure of knowing any of the Tri-Team or the Research Team, I want to say that they are some of the nicest most sincere people I know. My disease does not limit what I can do for the charity, but these strong individuals take my words and thoughts on the charity and put them into action. I am honored when they tell me my struggle inspires them. I am glad that I can give people that extra boost to complete these extremely difficult races and triathalons. These great people push themselves and strive to do well in these events and I am proud of them! They inspire me as well! Don’t worry research team I didn’t forget about you! Your hard work and dedication to the greater cause of treating Muscular Dystrophy is wonderful! The funds raised directly assist the team in their research and the actual MRI scan itself. Keep up the excellent work! BallouSkies has been lucky enough to recruit a team that is caring and hardworking! The charity would be nothing without them and we are lucky to have each and every one of these individuals on the charity team! And of course my family, thank you to all my family for all of your support! I literally wouldn’t make it through the day without you! You guys rock and I am so glad you are just as excited as I am about the success of the charity and the successes to come in the future!

UPDATE: May 5th, 2010

We are off and running, swimming and biking and creating a tremendous buzz for BallouSkies. The television campaign launching the BallouSkies Peanut Butter just ended. The tremendous awareness and response this created has the city of Pittsburgh supporting this great cause. I cannot thank Ryan enough for his efforts and of course, Ward Hobbs for writing and directing both a moving :15 second television commercial and long piece that that air locally on NBC for nearly three weeks. It is all good!!!! The goal for 2010 is to raise $50,000.00 for BallouSkies and the tremendous research being conducted at the OSU Heart Clinic. We have celebrity walks (charily Batch of the Steelers) scheduled, move television and print covered on the horizon and much, much more. Join the cause on Facebook and see how members are becoming engaged constantly to grow this charity from its roots!

The BallouSkies Triathlete team is off to a great start for 2010. You can review all details on the race team page, see results, photos, etc. We are also excited to announce two new members to the Board for 2010. Team captain and leader of BallouSkies, Ryan Ballou and Kevin Srigley will be joining the board and providing there keen insights to help us take BallouSkies to new heights.

Please get involved, spread the word and lend a hand to children and young men that need our help to extend their lives. What is you could truly touch a heart and help if grow stronger until there is a cure ... Ballou Skies everyday!

UPDATE: April 28, 2010

Click here to read article in the Post-Gazette

UPDATE: March 17th, 2010

Spring is in the air! I am excited to see the green grass and the sun is finally shining! Although for the most part we have been stuck inside and simply just trying to survive the multiple feet of snow, BallouSkies has taken this time to plan out our year and what we want to accomplish. We have been very busy coordinating race schedules and setting a game plan for the upcoming year. I am very excited because it is spring time and our races and events can actually begin. The bad weather is finally over, hopefully, and we can fully concentrate on implementing our thoughts and ideas we have been waiting to put to good use. We have also used this time to help spread the word about our cause and what we are fighting for. We now have BallouSkies bracelets that every team member wears. This will ensure that people know what cause we stand for. Also, we have had several radio spots, talking about the charity and it’s importance in aiding Muscular Dystrophy research. I am very confident that with this awareness this year will be better for the charity. The more people that know the more people can contribute and help spread the news of this great charity and the hope it is giving to those affected with Muscular Dystrophy. Please tell everyone you know. Tell them of this great cause and the implications of what mysteries this research can solve. BallouSkies is very important to my family and I and we want everyone to realize how great this charity is and how it can only get better with time. Our team has grown in this same fashion, and we now have a full group of athletes ready to step up to the test. People we know heard of the charity and thought it was a cause worth fighting for. This team is literally using there blood, sweat, and tears to help raise awareness. I cannot thank them enough for there time and especially the passion that drives them to run these marathons and triathlons. I am asking all those that care about this charity and what it stands for to have the same passion. If everyone in the world had the same drive and compassion as the BallouSkies team, think of what this charity could do. I ask that you take the time to think about this research and the possibilities that are out there. We just need to pursue this plight against Muscular Dystrophy with a great passion. The same passion that pushes athletes to punish their body in these races and events, could unlock the full potential of anything. As the days get longer and the temperatures climb, think about how lucky we all are to experience the changing of the seasons. Think of all the things people take for granted, and think of how this research could ensure everyone had the right to experience life free from the hindrances of a disease like Muscular Dystrophy. Please spread the word of the vital mission we at BallouSkies are accomplishing. Hope everyone has a great spring and all is well!

UPDATE: January, 2010

Happy New Year to all! I hope that everyone had a nice, calm, relaxing time with family and friends over the holiday season. My most recent appointment at the Ohio State Heart Clinic in December went very well. We saw my cardiologist Dr. Cook, the bright doctor that is heading this valuable research, and he was very pleased with the results of this latest MRI scan. This is another small victory for those afflicted with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). The good news that my heart is still functioning properly gives me hope. Not only a hope that we can in fact beat this disease, but a hope that we can continue to spread the word about this very important research. I hope that we can use this past year’s success as a spring board to truly aid this great cause. This good news keeps me going and lets me know that we are making a difference. Even though it may be a small difference we are still committing ourselves to doing all we can to spread the good news and raise funds and awareness for this crucial research. As I say to everyone I speak to about BallouSkies, “This research can help many boys affected with DMD, but it can lead down so many different avenues to help those affected with many other disorders”. This fact further cements my belief in this battle. So many people could benefit from this research. So many heart problems could be diagnosed and possibly prevented. Treatments can be prescribed before a major problem cannot be fixed. We are talking about gaining more knowledge and more extensive treatments to preserve the most important piece of our body, the heart. I do not see any reason why we should not pursue this critical research.

I am asking everyone to help spread the word. If you can donate that is great. One dollar, five dollars, it does not matter every little bit helps. Even if you cannot donate let your family and friends know about this cause. We want to spread the word to every one. We want every individual to get involved. Knowledge is a powerful tool, and with this research we can use it to our advantage. The more people that know, the more support we get, and we need support just as much as we need donations. We have had great support and donations since the start. I only ask that this support continues in the upcoming year. Visit Facebook and join the BallouSkies cause page!!

This year my new year’s resolution is to raise even more awareness and funds for the OSU Heart Clinic. Please aid us in our battle against this disease. I ask everyone to reflect upon themselves and consider the facts. It would be foolish not to pursue this research. I hope that everyone has a great start to their year. I look forward to continued success. All of the support is tremendous and I thank every single individual who has donated or has told someone about BallouSkies. Without any of you this would not be possible. Here’s to a great year of spreading awareness and of fundraising. I cannot wait to work my hardest to have continued success as we had in the first year of the charity. Hope all is well!