Lots of things happening around the industry that aren’t getting the attention they might. That’s a hazard in a news environment where there’s always a crisis du jour brewing. Unfortunately, many of the challenges we face in the outdoor industry aren’t the overblown “sky falls” that face others. Seems we are always looking at some legitimate challenge.

The pandemic spread of coronavirus has helped bring a medical fact to our attention: not every virus or ailment has a shelf-read cure. There are literally hundreds of little-know maladies that afflict millions of people. Unfortunately, most lack sufficient numbers to get the medical industry attuned to their plight. We’re not piling on “big Pharma” but there’s no denying the fact that pharmaceutical companies don’t have a lot of interest in investing in cures for diseases that don’t have millions of sufferers.

This is Rare Disease Week, a week when advocacy groups are trying to make the plights of their “orphan disease” sufferers known- and encourage people to take action on behalf of their sufferers.

Thankfully, it’s not something anyone in my immediate family’s going through. But I learned about Rare Disease Week because someone in our extended outdoor family is going through it.

Julie Golob has been a friend, fellow shooter and all-around advocate for gun rights and the shooting sports since she was a teen. Like Kim Rhode, I feel as if I’ve watched Julie grow up before my eyes. Today, she’s a well-known competitor, author and advocate for gun rights and shooting sports, but she’s also a mom.

Last week, Julie shared the news that her eleven-year-old daughter has been diagnosed with the autoimmune disease juvenile dermatomytosis.

If you’re a former Latin student, you probably recognize the disease as having something to do with the skin (derma). You’re correct, but there are serious things happening beneath the skin. The immune system literally attacks the muscles with life-altering and sometimes life-threatening consequences. Treatment is aggressive, involving infusions of steroids and IV immunoglobulin, as well as weekly injections of chemotherapy. All with the goal of putting the disease into remission.

There is already a charity called Cure JM that’s working on behalf of juvenile sufferers. Julie tells me it’s been a great help and comfort to her with “live webinars, personal encouragement” and other support.

Now, Julie wants to return the favor and, in exactly as I’d expect, get proactive to help find a cure for JM. And she’s asked us to help her reach out to the shooting community.

Yesterday, she unveiled a page on her website (juliegolob.com/curejm) that includes social media (hashtag #aimtocurejm and #edc2curejm) for CCW holders and #hunt2curejm for hunters with the link bit.ly/aim2curejm. They’re all created to help raise awareness for JM.

But she’s also done something to encourage us to do more than simply be aware. Julie’s created an “Aim to Cure JDM” challenge for the range.

It’s a 23-round course of fire you can download, print and use with anything from your 4-shot J-frame to a hunting rifle or .22 plinker.

Like the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Walks or the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, Julie’s “Aim to Cure JDM” is one of those tangible things we can all do to help.

When she reached out to me with the news, I told her that we’d be glad to help get the word out. Sometimes, when we report news, we have the opportunity to offer help as well.

Since beginning The Outdoor Wire, I’ve found that our readers want to help.

The “Aim to Cure JDM” challenge is one way shooters can not only help JM sufferers, they can do it while doing something we all need to do more often: practice.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s launched their “Gun Owners Care” initiative, and I think this gives us another opportunity to show the rest of the world just how true that is. I’ve already printed my target, and am looking at this week’s schedule to see how soon I can squeeze in a much-needed range session.

Although I’m certain my target won’t result in the optimal contribution, it’s a chance to help a group that finds itself in an unfortunate situation.

I believe Gun Owners really do Care.

—Jim Shepherd