June 28, 2016
By Bev Heim-Myers
Marty and Jim in Huntsville, ON. Looking suave guys!
At HSC, we define seasons differently. Right now, we are winding down “Event” Season.
On Saturday, I had the opportunity to meet the “Two Four One” team in Huntsville. Marty and Jim started out in BC and have been travelling across Canada on their bicycles to raise funds and awareness for Huntington disease (HD). Where they are certainly doing the heavy lifting on this trek, they are strongly cheered on by family, HD Chapters, strangers and perhaps most of all their wives, Carrie and Ann, along the way. Their coast-to-coast adventure is soon to be finished. I strongly suggest that you visit www.twofourone.org to follow the daily adventures and see some great video clips of Marty and Jim.
This adventure started with a dream of Jim’s to cycle across Canada someday. Given that both Marty and Jim’s extended families have been impacted by HD, they generously decided to raise funds to change the course of HD and raise awareness. The name and branding of their ride was the brain child of one of their children – 2 guys, 4 wheels, 1 cause. Carrie, Marty’s wife, kindly shared a picture of the original scrap of paper where the branding was born. See the inspirational work below.
The hand-drawn prototype of what is now the recognizable Two Four One logo!
To date, Marty and Jim have raised over an amazing $25,000.00. But more than that, they have raised awareness and given the HD community a sense of pride. Everyone, including brilliant researchers, Chapters, volunteers and staff are working hard to work ourselves out of a job. Recent research suggests that the HD mutation is much more prevalent than we once thought – perhaps 1 in 400 carry an HD mutation. Knowing what we know, it is a good time for HD and critical that we continue to move forward with promising treatments and quickly get those treatments to the HD population. Marty and Jim are helping us move things forward, on many levels.
I want to extend a huge thank you to Marty, Jim, Carrie, Ann, their families and all of the folks that have supported this ride along the way. We are all inspired!
I would like to suggest a small change to their branding, however. Thank you to – 2 “great” guys, 4 wheels, 1 cause- for all that you are doing.
Safe travels Marty and Jim. We look forward to following your adventure as you get closer to finishing this magnificent journey.