Watch above: Although Saskatchewan Roughriders QB Darian Durant wasn’t on the field Sunday, he was helping a local family raise money for a good cause. As Jacqueline Wilson reports, efforts are going towards saving the lives of twins.
SASKATOON – Saskatchewan Roughriders star quarterback Darian Durant is helping a local family raise money for a good cause. Addison and Emma Surine may only be six months old but they have the support of Rider Nation behind them.
In June, the girls were diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1, which is an incurable genetic disorder that causes progressive loss of muscle function. The life expectancy is one to two years.
This hasn’t stopped their parents, Dan and Melissa, from doing anything they can to save the twins. They’ve decided the babies will take part in a clinical trial for a new medication that could slow down, stop or even cure the disease.
But it comes at a cost.
“So there is a trial for type 1 babies right now in Vancouver but you have to live within six hours of the city, that’s a stipulation of the drug company, so they had no choice but to relocate,” said the girls’ paternal grandmother Cheryl Black.
The family will be taking leaves of absence from work and moving to British Columbia for 14 months because the twins need medical attention 24/7.
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Durant heard the family’s story and knew he had to help.
“It just touched my heart, dearly. I wasn’t able to contribute on the field so I wanted to help out in the community in any way I can and this story really touched me,” said Durant.
He decided to host a fundraiser at the Rock Creek Tap and Grill in Saskatoon’s Stonebridge neighbourhood on Sunday. Rider fans had the opportunity to watch the game with the quarterback, get autographs and participate in silent auctions.
“It amazing that the community and the Riders would do something like this for us. You know we are just ordinary people,” said Brenda Romanosowski, the twin’s maternal grandmother.
The family is hoping to raise enough money to support the family and any additional proceeds will go towards awareness and research for SMA. A crowdfunding page has also been created for those who want to donate.
Even though Addison and Emma are facing a tough road ahead, Sunday proves they won’t have to do it alone.
Jacqueline Wilson contributed to this story
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