On Dec. 14, the Bradford Minor Hockey Club in association with Muscular Dystrophy Canada will be putting on a hockey fundraising event, ‘Millie Day’ in honour of seven-year-old Bradford girl Millie Arjoon who has muscular dystrophy.
The event will be held at the Bradford Leisure Centre and is hoping to bring awareness and raise funds for the disease.
The ‘Battle of the Gwillimburies’ hockey tournament will be going on throughout the day, with Millie being part of the initial puck drop. There will be a 50/50 draw, with funds going towards Muscular Dystrophy Canada. Mayor Keffer and members of council will also be in attendance to show their support.
Millie’s parents, Trina and Jordon Arjoon moved to Bradford in 2009 and say they have been fortunate with the support from the community for Millie. From local bake sales to ice cream events, Trina says Millie has become ‘quite known’ in town.
Just three years ago, with money raised on a Go Fund Me page, the family was able to have an elevator installed in their home to make it easier for Millie to get around.
And two years ago, their real estate agent held a charity golf tournament to help raise money to go toward a wheelchair accessible van for the family.
Trina said she was touched when Dave Sedgewick from the Bradford Minor Hockey Club reached out to her about them wanting to do something for Millie at their annual tournament. But Trina wanted to do something that not only benefited Millie, but others diagnosed with muscular dystrophy as well.
“The community has helped us so much, so let’s do something that not only benefits us, let’s do something that benefits an organization,” she said.
All funds raised on “Millie Day” will go directly to the Muscular Dystrophy Canada organization which helps to support those affected by muscular dystrophy and related muscle diseases.
“It worked out really great,” said Trina of the fundraiser. “It should be a good day.”
Sedgewick says Bradford Minor Hockey is always looking to partner with members of the community and promote inclusivity and awareness.
“We wanted to mobilize our membership for a very good cause that affects a valued family in our community,” he said.
“Hockey is so much more than a sport and can be used most importantly to develop life skills and build relationships. You don’t have to be on the ice or behind a bench to be a member of our family. We are happy to call Millie, Trina and Jordon part of ours!”
Muscular dystrophy is a neuromuscular disorder. There are over 30 types of muscular dystrophy, affecting each patient differently. Millie has Ullrich muscular dystrophy, one of the rarest forms of the disease.
“At three months old the doctor kind of figured something was up, but didn’t know what was wrong,” explained Trina.
Being new parents, Trina and Jordon didn’t realize anything was wrong, but did noticed she was ‘floppier’ than other babies.
“She was really floppy and didn’t have a lot of girth to her,” said Trina.
Millie underwent various testing and received her diagnosis at one and half years old.
“And then on top of it she has developmental delays and a seizure disorder. They are not associated with muscular dystrophy,” explained Trina.
There is no cure for muscular dystrophy, only treatments and therapies that can help slow the progression of the disease and strengthen muscles.
To help with getting around and sitting up, she uses a few pieces of equipment including her wheelchair, stander, and a ‘Rifton.’ The Rifton is an activity chair that moves up and down, allowing her to eat at the tble, or sit close to her friends on the carpet at school. She also wears custom orthotics and wrist guards, mainly for protection and to help strengthen her bones.
“For her it just affects her muscles and collagen in the muscles, she doesn’t have much strength, even lifting a phone would be really hard for her,” Trina explained. “It won’t get better, if anything it will get worse over time.”
Despite the prognosis, both Trina and Jordon remain positive and consider themselves lucky that the disease only affects Millie's muscles and not her breathing, and that they are able to get around easily since she uses a push chair, and not a power chair, which can be harder with accessibility.
“Some people have difficulty breathing so we’re pretty lucky in that sense, she doesn’t have breathing issues, they are just muscular,” said Trina.
The Arjoons love being able to live and raise their daughter in BWG. Millie attends W.H. Day School, and Trina says everyone at the school and in the community have been “awesome” with her.
Trina noted how accessible many of the places in the Bradford community are, including the Leisure Centre where Millie attends summer camp every year.
“It’s been pretty good. We’re lucky,” said Trina.
“She’s such a calm and cool kid. She’s just awesome to be around.”
Donations for the event can be made at the rink on Dec. 14.
