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1,524km logged |
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Sign up, train and fundraise for a chance to win some amazing prizes from our valued sponsors. We have fun incentives and fundraising prizes for you this year... Check out our Prizes page for more info.
Athina's Journey: A Story of Resilience and Hope
At just 15 years old, my life took an unexpected turn that would reshape my future. I'm Athina Merckx, and I live with a rare condition that affects only 2 to 4 people in a million. This is my story of challenge, courage, and unwavering hope.
It began innocently enough in February 2019 with knee pain after swim practice. What started as a concerning bump led to a diagnosis that would change everything - Desmoid Fibromatosis. Our search for answers took us to Columbus, Ohio, where I underwent surgery to remove the tumor. But this was just the beginning of my journey.
The recovery brought its own battles. I developed Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), experiencing pain beyond anything I could have imagined. Drop foot from nerve damage meant countless hours of physiotherapy, testing my determination daily. Yet even after a year of recovery and progress, my three-month check-up MRI revealed new tumors in my right leg.
My fight continued with multiple rounds of chemotherapy, starting in November 2019. The port in my chest became a constant reminder of my battle. While the initial two-year treatment plan proved too challenging, I persevered through various chemotherapy options, each bringing its own trials and disappointments. In June 2023, we tried a new approach - Cryoablation, freezing the tumors from within. Though this brought some relief, my journey with treatments continues.
Today, I'm facing new chapters in my story. I've recently completed IVF, thinking ahead to future possibilities - a reality many young desmoid patients must consider. There's new hope on the horizon with Nirogacestat, the first FDA-approved medication specifically for desmoid tumors. While balancing life as a full-time student at the University of Victoria, I remain optimistic about this next treatment.
My experience has taught me that while this disease may be rare, the strength to fight it isn't. Through Athina's Ride, I'm turning my personal battle into a movement of hope and action, proving that together, we can make a difference in the lives of all those affected by desmoid tumors.
About Desmoids Tumours
About DFC
The Desmoid Tumour Foundation of Canada (DFC) is the official Canadian charity for desmoid research.
Updates on Funds Raised (2023)
Making Every Dollar Count: Athina's Ride's Impact Since 2021
In just four remarkable years, Athina's Ride has transformed from a hopeful initiative into a powerful force for desmoid tumour research. Here's our journey by the numbers:
Year-by-Year Impact
2021: $132,700
- An extraordinary launch year
- Set new standards for first-time charitable events
2022: $79,435
- Built on first year's momentum
- Reached $212,135 cumulative total
2023: $68,703
- Pushed total to $280,838
- Maintained strong community support
2024: $53,162
- Surpassed $330,000 milestone
- Continued dedication to the cause
What Makes Us Different
- 100% of proceeds go directly to research
- All funds support the Desmoid Tumour Foundation of Canada (DFC)
- Every dollar contributes to finding better treatments and ultimately, a cure
This incredible achievement demonstrates what's possible when a community comes together for a cause. As we enter our fifth year, we're more determined than ever to make an even bigger impact.
About Athina's Ride
Athina's Ride is a cycling event that starts with getting on your bike for training rides and culminates on July 13th. Either complete your ride on your own, with family, friends or if you can join a ride led by Athina Merckx in Penticton, B.C. where you can achieve the goal you set for yourself and join others in supporting Athina and her efforts to raise funds to find a cure. If you can't make it to Penticton you can do your own ride wherever you are. Your training for this ride can be indoors on a trainer or outdoors (and manually log it, or use platforms like Strava to automatically upload your rides). You'll sign up, choose if you will be in Penticton or accomplishing your own ride in another city and start training.
Create an account, log your training distances, and then participate on Ride Day . By logging your distances and fundraising, you'll enter to win some awesome prizes. Meanwhile, 100% of the proceeds raised through fundraising will benefit the Desmoid Tumour Foundation of Canada.
Connect with us #ATHINASRIDE
