Pietro’s Fight To The Finish Line – The 4th Annual 5K Run/Walk  was held on Saturday, September 24, 2016. The weather might have been gray and cold but the sun shined for us in other ways.  We couldn’t have been more excited to share the wonderful news that on Monday, September 19, 2016, after waiting 115 for the FDA to make a decision, they finally said YES to approving ETEPLIRSEN. The FDA did their job in making sure that Eteplirsen was a safe drug prescribed to these children. This decision took courage from Pietro and other boys in the trial to go week after week for infusions, commitment from parents who led these children on this journey, and it took the support from our community and nation to get this achieved.  Eteplirsen being approved is not only important for DMD patients but it is changing the way the FDA will review all drugs for rare diseases going forward.  This is not a cure but it is giving us more time to find a cure.  We will not stop until we END DMD.  Last Saturday we, along with all of our supporters, spent the day at Brooklyn’s scenic 69th Street Pier. Runners, walkers, and strollers all showed their support as they proudly wore END DMD shirts, representing our main goal here atPietrosfight.org. Pietro is truly an inspiration to all who cross his path. In years past, his mother would carry him on her shoulders for the kids race and he would stand at the finish line “high fiving” everyone who crossed it. On this Saturday, Pietro ran the kids race on his own and ran and walked the 5K with his friends, family and community. This boy cheered all of the runners and walkers as they finished the course.

We want to thank Congressman Dan Donovan and Senator Marty Golden for coming out and holding a press conference on our behalf.  Thank you to ABC 7 Eyewitness News and CBS Channel 2 News for coming out and supporting Our Mission of Love, Our Fight for a Cure.  Thank you to all of Pietro’s fighters for being there and showing your support. You are the backbone of Pietrosfight.org and the reason we push every day. Thank you to all of our sponsors; without you our events would not be as successful as they are.  Thank you to Kiwanis Club, Investors Bank, Bay Ridge Window & Door, Geico, Pearly Whites Pediatric Dentistry LLC, Roth & Co. ,Robert Scarpaci, Lisa Wiersma and Meric Greenbaum from IMC, Horizons Dance Center, Aunt Butchies, BOSS , ALC,, Vintage Caterers, Robert Nelson, Edgar Alacan, Agostino D- In memory of Domenico Deleonartis, Camille Fortunato Team AG, CEBU, The Grimaldi Family, Bohemian Rose, Bay Ridge Honda, Bay Ridge Volvo, Bay Ridge Volkswagen, Bay Ridge Mazda, Specialized Eye Care, Green Spa, Maureen Brody, DJ by DJ, Anthoula Mastoros from Halo Salon,Stepping Stones, Thomas DiMaria DDS PC, Liberty Payroll Solutions, GPM Pediatrics P.C, Floral Fantasy, Gino’s Restaurant, Dr. Michael G. Vitale, MD, MPH, Salvatore C. Gaudino, DPM, Donofrio General Contractors, John Barbera, Camille loccisano, Frankies Mission, Mastorakis & JM Contracting.

Special thanks to Rocco from Menny Memories entertainment for providing the 69th street pier with rocking music, Daniel Marino of Marino Photography www.danmarinophoto.com for capturing the memories, Stas Furman from Factor5Films for documenting the event on video and Binxx the Clown and Tommy’s Costume Character for donating face painting and Spider Man. Thank you to Bagel Boy and H&L Bagels for donating bagels, Starbucks on 3rd Avenue for donating coffee, Go Fresh or Go Home for donating an assortment of fruit, Utz for the chips and John Edwards from www.rockapulcorun.com for timing our event! It takes a team like ours to come together and get the job done.

On behalf of our family and our team, we want to offer our heartfelt thanks to everyone who made Saturday so successful, including all donations that were made in the form of food, money, or time, the Parks Department, the Fire Department and Police Department. None of this would be possible without all of you standing with us and joining in our fight to the finish. With your support we will continue this mission of love and fight for a cure until a cure is found.  We will not stop until a Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy diagnosis lets you live a normal life.