Quebec dad jumps out of a plane to raise money for the Liam Foundation, in honour of Mitochondrial disease

Most parents would go to the end of the earth for their children. Quebecer Kevin James Reason is willing to jump out of a plane for his son Liam, and it’s all to raise money for mitochondrial disease.

The father of four says, “Taking Liam to the hospital makes me more nervous than jumping out of a plane.”

He continued, “I believe awareness is key to finding a cure for mitochondrial disease. So one of those nights where I wasn’t sleeping, jumping out of a plane popped in my head, and here we are today.”

When Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge, from Vortige, Canada’s largest skydiving centre located in Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, North East of Montreal, learnt of what Reason wanted to do, he offered him a complimentary jump.

Reason says, “Back in 2019, when Liam was diagnosed, I was really alone and we didn’t know too much about the disease, but today I can say thanks to all of you, we’re opening up that clinic. We’re bringing in new drugs and treatments for these kids, so I appreciate it.”

Mitochondrial diseases are a group of genetic conditions that affect how mitochondria in your cells produce energy. Mitochondria produce most of the energy your body needs. If you have a mitochondrial disease, your cells aren’t able to produce enough energy.

Reason explains, “My son Liam, who the foundation is named after, has mitochondrial disease. I know many, many kids around the world and adults as well with this really nasty disease. Finding a cure doesn’t just hurt the child or the person going through their battle with mitochondrial disease. It also affects the family. So it’s important for me to find that cure, and kids can be kids again.”

Kevin’s hard work in fundraising for mitochondrial disease is paying off; he has partnered with the MUHC Foundation and Montreal’s Children’s Hospital for a special project.

He says, “In November, we’ll be having a grand opening. It’s taken about two years right now, but we’re around the corner. We’re going to be bringing in the Liam Mito Excellence Center. It’ll be at the Montreal Children’s Hospital.”

They will be bringing in kids from around the world to the centre. They have already had families come from England and Holland, and are expecting another family to be coming in from Abu Dhabi.

Reason says, this is a worldwide disease, so his mission is to help kids around the world. Reason says, Mitochondrial disease is a horrible disease that slowly takes the energy away from kids. He is driven to find a cure and to save lives. 

When asked what a cure for mitochondrial disease would mean to Reason and his family, he says, “It would be special. I’d get back to normal life, families would get back to normal life, and kids could be kids again.”

To learn more about the Liam Foundation, visit click here.