It Is The John Davidsons Of The World That Make A Real Difference

Not the Gores, Suzukis, Bonos, et al who are all hype. The Davidsons do things at the grass roots helping get one thing done for maybe only one person but isn't that what life is about.....helping the person next to us.

How far would you go for somebody you love?
By IAN GILLESPIE

In 1995, he pushed his son across Ontario in a wheelchair. In 1998, he hiked across the country alone. And today -- on a day when the bitter cold cuts like a knife -- he plans to walk the 33 kilometres from Lucan to London.

But if you ask John Davidson about hardship and sacrifice and how he stays committed to his cause, he simply turns the question around.

"How far would you go for somebody you love?" he says. "You'd go a long way. You'd do everything you can. And that's why I do this."

The "this" Davidson refers to is Jesse's Journey, the fundraising campaign named after Davidson's son, who was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy 21 years ago.

Weather permitting, Davidson and his team plan to leave Lucan today at about 7:30 a.m. If all goes well, they'll arrive at London's Covent Garden Market some time after 4 p.m.

The walk is designed to publicize the group's May 4 fundraiser, in which participants will be asked to walk 33 kilometres -- the average daily distance Davidson covered during his trek in 1995 -- through London's park system. (Participants may split the distance with other walkers. The overall goal is to accumulate enough distance -- about 8,300 kilometres -- to equal a journey across Canada.)

Since that trek across Ontario 12 years ago, Jesse's Journey has raised more than $2 million for research into the fatal disease, which affects about 25,000 boys across North America.

A progressive genetic disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy weakens the muscles of the hips, thighs, shoulders and pelvis. It eventually affects all voluntary muscles and results in life-threatening pulmonary and cardiac complications. There is no known cure.

Davidson says the London-based charity, which hopes to establish an endowment fund large enough to generate $1 million per year, supports research in London, Ottawa and Pittsburgh, Pa.

But despite growing research, Davidson is well aware his son's future is perilous.

"I'm pretty cognizant of the fact that Jesse is 27," he says. "Most of these kids do not survive beyond their teen years.

And none of them like to see that in print, either.

"But we just keep sweeping this under the rug, like, let's not talk about it and maybe it will go away," he says. "Well, it won't go away. And we've got to do something about that."

And though he admits researchers likely won't find a cure in time to save his son, Davidson is still optimistic.

"The young family that's going to get diagnosed on the day your article appears in the paper, I'm envious of them," he says. "Because they've got a youngster who's probably between four and six years of age. I don't know where he is and I don't know who he is, but I intend to be there for him.

"Those are the kids we're trying to make a difference for. And I'm envious of that family because they've still got a huge window of opportunity."

These days -- and with the help of his parents and health-care workers -- Jesse Davidson is living on his own in London. He graduated from Fanshawe College several years ago and now works part-time with Heritage London.

"I do what I can," says Jesse. "I know my limits very well. I try to enjoy life and enjoy the people around me . . . like anyone else."

But while Jesse has lived with Duchenne muscular dystrophy for two decades, his father is still driven by the injustice of the disease.

"Jesse has never been on a skateboard, Jesse has never ridden a bicycle," says the elder Davidson. "And that's all these kids want: The chance to do some of the normal things that other kids do. And I think we can make that happen."

And if walking from Lucan to London can help, then the 61-year-old Davidson is eager to hit the road.

"I'm not an athlete, I'm just a dad," he says. "And I'm trying to do what dads are supposed to do. And that, in my mind, is to do everything you can to give your children the best possible quality of life."