Picnic raises money for DMD research

PARMA - German Central in Parma was the site of the 4th annual Picnic in the Park Friday to raise money for research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

"We've raised from our community over $100,000 right into the hands of researchers that are working to derail this muscle wasting illness," Jen Dumm of North Royalton said.

For her, the illness is personal.  Her 7 year old son, John Owen, was diagnosed with it when he was 4.

"He is not able to get up from the floor by himself," she said.  He cannot walk upstairs. Even if he drops a pencil at school, he can't pick it up.  He just simply doesn't have the muscle strength to do that."

For the 4th year in a row, thousands turned out at the Picnic in the Park for a night of fun and games and to support John Owen and his family.  Jen called it a celebration.

"We're going to celebrate today," she said, "because that's what we've got...today."