A Grande Prairie man has decided to ride his bike from Edmonton to Grande Prairie in support of a friend in need. Damion Podridske will start his four-day journey on September 21st to raise awareness and funds to help close friend Carley Dorscheid pay for her Lyme Disease treatment in Mexico.
“It all kind of started a couple of months ago when she found out she needed out of country treatment that’s not here in Canada. I’m basically doing whatever I can in order to raise funds to help take her to Mexico to get her the treatment she needs.”
Podridske has set up a GoFundMe page in the hopes of raising $10,000 towards travel, accommodations and treatment costs. As of September 18th, between the page and private donations he has raised around $1,400.
Dorscheid, a 27-year-old mother of two received a diagnosis of Lyme Disease earlier this year after dealing with symptoms for the past four years. She says she’s known Podridske since junior high and says it means a lot to her that he wants to do this.
“Honestly, I’m quite overwhelmed. I never expected that someone would go out of their way to do such a big thing for me but it’s been pretty crazy the amount of support from friends and family that I’ve gotten since I found out this diagnosis.”
Initially, Podridske said he would start his ride when he hit that $10,000 goal but has decided to move ahead with it anyway. He says the GoFundMe will remain active in the hopes of still hitting the goal.
“When it comes to someone that you love the extent that some people are willing to go, for me it’s endless. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to try and help her get what she needs.”
Dorscheid says she is hoping to make the trip to Mexico by November.