During the start of June, I began my Bike to the Moon journey riding for my wife.  Only a few days into the month my brother-in-law Khamsouei Phovixayboulom passed away from PKD and its complications. I now continue this ride in honor of my brother.

I'm affected by PKD through my wife who has inherited PKD.  This disease results in many cysts forming in the kidneys which eventually result in kidney failure.  In addition to cysts forming in the kidneys, cysts may also form in the liver.  Liver cysts also eventually cause the liver function to degrade, and the liver size to grow.

  My wife was unlucky enough to have cysts in both the liver and kidneys and has in the past year had a liver transplant.  The medications necessary to prevent organ rejection have a negative effect on the kidneys and thus kidney function decline as a result.

I have participated in Bike to the Moon for the past few years, each of those years I have tried to ride 1/1000 the distance to the moon 384 Km.  Biking the distance to the moon seems like an impossible task, but if we work as a group, we will be able to achieve it.  Similarly curing Polycystic Kidney Disease seems like an impossible task, but I believe if we put our efforts together we will one day find a cure, and can END PKD.

Bike to the Moon is an annual PKD Foundation of Canada global bikeathon. Collectively, we aim to bike the distance to the moon (384,400 km) and raise funds for critical Canadian PKD research across Canada. Bike to the Moon enables those all over Canada affected by PKD to participate in the ride and achieve even greater fundraising goals. With every new year, the ride will help the PKD Foundation of Canada move closer to its goal of finding more treatments and a cure for those living with PKD. The PKD Foundation is the ONLY national organization solely dedicated to fighting polycystic kidney disease through research, education, advocacy, support and awareness. Your donation, no matter the size, will make a difference in the lives of millions people worldwide with PKD.