Ross Beaulieu set the pace in his motorized wheelchair Monday, leading a group of about 60 runners around the Millennium Trail.

He and younger brother, Finn, were the stars of the evening at Rotary Peace Park – a send-off for a team of local runners set to run Sunday’s Victoria Marathon while raising funds for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

“It’s really awesome to have so many people show up,” said run organizer Aisha Montgomery.

“It’s important that the boys feel supported on this journey.”

Ross Beaulieu, 18, and Finn, 15, are both students at Vanier Catholic Secondary School. They were diagnosed with DMD more than 10 years ago.

DMD is the most common fatal genetic disorder diagnosed in childhood, affecting one in every 3,500 boys. It results in a progressive loss of muscle strength, which leads to more serious problems relating to the heart and lungs.

Young men with Duchenne typically live into their late 20s, according to the website parentprojectmd.org.

Although there are medical treatments that may help slow its progression, at present there is no cure for Duchenne.

Team Ross and Finn is a group of 27 local runners who will run various distances in the Victoria Marathon.

Each member of Team Ross and Finn committed to raising $1,000 for the cause. All funds are contributed to U.S.-based organization Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy.

The two Beaulieu boys will lead the group’s cheerleading contingent.

This year, the team has raised approximately $32,000 for Run For Our Sons, an initiative started in 2005 that sees fund-raising runners compete in marathons across North America.

Michelle Beaulieu said the team consists of a group of friends who run and cross-country ski together, depending on the season.

“It’s really powerful to have a community that’s so supportive,” the boys’ mother told the Star post-run.

“It’s really nice when you get to a point where other people are leading the charge.”

In her online fund-raising bio, Beaulieu referred to her sons as her heroes. Despite their continual loss of mobility and independence, they never stop living, she said.

Laura Salmon was one of the team members running Monday. She said fund-raising towards a cure for DMD wasn’t as big a challenge as she first anticipated.

“I’m always surprised by people’s generosity,” she said.

Salmon is the mother of two active young girls and said she draws motivation and inspiration from the Beaulieu family.

“This is a way of acknowledging how lucky I am to run and more,” she said. “It gives me more gratitude.”

Four years ago, Team Ross and Finn competed in a Seattle marathon after raising close to $54,000.

To support the team, visit RunForOurSons.org/.