Columbia Family Takes Hardship as Inspiration to Help Others

The Kicher's 'Miles For Mark' campaign is not only helping them, but the rest of the muscular dystrophy community.

By: Justin Stevens

   Raising a child born with a destructive genetic disease is never an easy task to deal with for a family. The Kicher family from West Columbia has dealt with this task for over eight years now, as their son Mark was born with Ducheene Muscular Dystrophy.
   Up close, Mark may look like the average eight year old. He loves video games and loves to go to camp. But the disease that is inside of him will most likely force him to walk with a aid by age 10 and may not live past 25 years old.
   Holly Kicher, Mark's mom, is running in the Marine Corps Marathon in October while pusing Mark in a wheelchair. Until the run, Holly is raising awarness and funds for muscular dystrophy research called "Miles For Mark." She says the campaign got started just by the desire to fulfill her child's dream that he cannot finish on his own.
   "'Miles for Mark' got started with just a desire to fulfill my child’s dream," Holly Kicher said. "And I thought you know why can’t I run for him. Why can’t he be my heart and I’ll be his legs and just run for him.”
   Bubble Tea Cafe has been raising money for "Miles For Mark" for just a couple of weeks. Josh Drake, an employee at Bubble Tea Cafe, says when he first heard about the story of Holly and Mark he knew it was a great chance not just to help them, but to help the community.
   “I thought that was an excellent opportunity for us to give back to the community more with a percent night, not just selling the mobiles for muscular dystrophy, but giving back to the community which is what we are all about at Bubble Tea Café," Drake said.
   Tara Heil, the Executive Direcot of the Muscular Dystrophy Association in Columbia, has known the Kicher's for over three years. She says that the support that the "Miles For Mark" campaign has received has not only benefitted the Kicher's, but other famalies as well.
   “Also in addition to the money that helps the love and support that it provides to a family like the Kicher’s to understand their not along in their fight," Heil said. "And those really dark days when days are tough that can make all the difference in the world to help you get through.”
   So whether the campaign brings in money or supports other families with family members with musular dystrophy, "Miles For Mark" is helping the Kicher's fulfill their own dreams.
   To learn more about the campaign, visit www.mda.org.