Fred Dery's mother, Doris, died at age 76 in October 2003, after a three-year battle with pulmonary fibrosis.

Dery, a 13-year Oxford resident, is helping raise funds to find a cure for the little-known disease. He has a good start in his immediate family with 11 siblings who can contribute.

But Fred, 42, and brother Matt, 44, have found a way to go above and beyond that.

Avid canoeists, they are collecting pledges for a 120-mile canoe marathon this month on the Au Sable River.

Remembering their mother's sacrifices is what will inspire them on a two-day journey interrupted only by sleep at Matt's cottage about halfway up the route.

"She was a strong woman of great faith," Matt said. "She died a peaceful death, but it was a long, hard illness. It's a ruthless disease."

Pulmonary fibrosis is a scarring of the lungs and death is imminent within five years of diagnosis, according to medical experts. The disease kills 40,000 people per year - the same number as breast cancer, according to pulmonaryfibrosis.org.

Many cases are caused by a combination of breathing polluted air and exposure to pathogens, doctors say. It afflicts any age and may also be genetic, some say.

Doris Dery knew of the diagnosis for two years before telling anyone in the family, her sons said. With a husband, Fred Sr., and 11 children, that's a hard secret to keep.

"She's from the generation where they never talk about their ailments," Fred Jr. said.

Joining together on a common goal only makes sense for brothers who never endured sibling rivalry, Fred said.

"He's the ninth born and I'm 10th, the closest in age of the 12," Fred said. "We've been linked at the hip since childhood."

The brothers plan on leaving shore in Grayling at 5 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, and will "paddle until it's dark or we're exhausted," Matt said.

Some of their siblings live out of state and can't attend, they said. Of those in attendance, some will row alongside or follow along on the banks, assisting with nutritional aides, they said.

The Derys have trained since January, spending many hours rowing on Lake Sixteen in Lake Orion , they said. The longest they've paddled without stopping is 26 miles, Matt said.

Fred is about 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds. Matt has dropped 25 pounds and weighs in at 250 on a 6-2 frame.

Matt didn't just have to drop weight. A year ago, he had brain surgery and spent 17 days in Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak recovering.

"This is an undertaking that neither of us takes lightly," Fred said.

The Derys grew up in Ferndale , but got their taste of the outdoors through family vacations.

"Growing up, money was scarce," Fred remembered. "Going 'up north' was camping at Metamora State Park (near Lake Minnow )."