Joe McMahon, founder of First Knight Racing and host of the Peasantman Steel Distance Triathlon, has dedicated himself to organizing, directing, and participating in races since the age of 20.
With an impressive athletic resume boasting over 500 races, including 38 full distance triathlons (four of them Steel Distances), 75+ marathons, and 17+ half distance triathlons, among others, Joe has earned widespread respect within statewide triathlon clubs and unofficially holds the #2 spot for most full distance triathlons completed in New York State.
Passionate about making a difference, Joe has contributed significantly to charitable causes, raising over $920,000 for various charities, including the MMRF.
Reflecting on his passion for fundraising and its personal significance, Joe shared: “Fundraising for important causes has always been at the forefront of my racing career. In 2013, I met the inspirational team at MMRF, and was immediately drawn to their mission to further pharmaceutical research and improve patient outcomes. My father, Dr. William McMahon, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, so the cause is near and dear to my heart.”
In early 2024, Joe reconnected with former MMRF Ironman Lake Placid teammate, Salim Martin, who currently serves as the MMRF Endurance Coach. Their discussions led to a new partnership between First Knight Racing and MMRF for the 2024 Peasantman Steel Distance Triathlon.
With unwavering commitment to advancing the MMRF’s life-saving mission: to accelerate a cure for each and every patient, Joe stated: “Every penny raised through this partnership will go directly to MMRF. The First Knight Racing organization couldn’t be prouder to begin raising money to support this critically important cause, and we are eternally grateful to MMRF for their collaboration.”
Secure your spot and make history by joining MMRF Team for Cures at our inaugural participation at the Peasantman Steel Distance Triathlon.
Eric Gelber, a CBRE Executive Vice President and ultra-endurance athlete, a husband and father has taken on increasingly challenging endurance feats to raise funds to find new treatments and eventually a cure for multiple myeloma, a blood cancer which, currently is incurable. Eric has raised over $2,400,000 for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) to fund critical research to accelerate a cure for every patient.
It began in 2006, when Eric decided to get off the couch and run his first marathon to raise funds for cancer research and honor a friend, Anita, who was battling multiple myeloma. After that first marathon he was hooked. Each year since then, he has challenged himself by taking on longer and more difficult events, building up to The Journey Towards a Cure in 2016. On his third attempt, over the course of 60 hours, Eric ran 200 Miles in New York City’s Central Park. Hundreds of everyday runners, patients and caregivers joined him as he put his body on the line to raise money and awareness for the MMRF. Eric’s incredible story has attracted much media attention. In 2016, Resonant Films and Tribeca Films captured his passion and grit in a 50-minute documentary, 200 MILES, which premiered at the prestigious TriBeCa Film Festival and is now available on Crackle and a number of other streaming services.
In 2018, Eric reimagined The Journey into a festival like atmosphere which included a 12-hour run relay, live music, and a food and beer garden. Most importantly it was a chance for all to come out to support and celebrate life together at a one-of-a-kind event. The event inspired nearly 150 people to push their limits to support myeloma patients, raising over $194,000. Then In 2021, he returned to Central Park but not for a run, but another epic idea created by Eric, a 200-mile erg rowing event! The rowing event raised $165,000 pushing the total raised by Eric and supporters of The Journey to over $2 million to accelerate a cure.
On April 27-28, 2024, Eric invites you to be part of The Journey at Sea Colony a family-friendly 2-day event that will encompass an exclusive viewing of the inspiring 200 MILES documentary and cocktail party, tennis and pickle ball tournaments, and a 5K race and 1-mile fun walk. Register now for the event or make a donation to The Journey today!
My big moment with the MMRF came on February 20, 2018, about a year after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma. I had gone through ~12 months of testing, treatments, and a successful stem cell transplant, and as most myeloma patients will tell you, that first year was very structured. The path to remission seemed very well known, and there were expert oncologists and nurses there to help define a daily routine for me, which gave me great comfort.
But then came 2018, when it was time to transition to maintenance therapies and settle into a less-structured “normal life” living with cancer. There was just one problem: living with cancer wasn’t normal for me! I remember feeling very intimidated about taking that step. What if I don’t know how to live with cancer? What if I do it wrong? What if I make a mistake!? What if it all comes crashing down?!?!
My wife Katie, being the emotionally intelligent one, recognized that really, I just needed to talk to someone about my feelings, and she guided me to the MMRF. I agreed to reach out because deep down I just wanted to find someone else like me—someone who had dealt with these feelings before—someone who was out there living a normal life with cancer. That’s when I got my first email from the MMRF.
Caroline Webel from the MMRF in Norwalk, CT, understood what I was feeling, and she introduced me to a gentleman named David Schor. Dave was a myeloma survivor from New Jersey who (for some odd reason) liked the Denver Broncos. He was living proof that you could be a cancer patient and a dedicated sports fan and a Dad and a husband and a regular dude all at the same time. He loved his wife and his son and his beagle and especially Boston accents. He enjoyed his job and fitness and taking risks and watching funny movies and all the same things that I wanted to have in my “normal” life with cancer. And he did it all with such a carefree attitude too. I will never forget the first email I got from Dave. He didn’t call our disease by its real name, he simply referred to it as “Loma”. Ha ha, he had a nickname for it! It was clear that he had accepted cancer, like it was just another part of him, like anything else would be. Cancer did not define him, and that gave me hope.
Now many years later, Dave and I are still close friends, each living our best cancer lives thanks to the MMRF. Our friendship is largely a remote and virtual one—held firmly together by sending text messages and Christmas cards, comparing test results, and sharing medical data and links to emerging myeloma treatments. Most importantly though, we share the laughter of a 100 million inside jokes that have come to life since the day Caroline Webel introduced me to my “Chemosabe”:
The credit for discovering the MMRF Walk/Run and choosing to participate belongs entirely to my lovely wife Katie. Since forming our first MMRF team in 2018, she has accumulated over $75,000 in donations for the Boston event and inspired hundreds of generous runner-walker-donors to get involved and join us along the way.
Included on the annual team are our two young children, Cali and Tyler, who have also been active fundraisers and participants since our first MMRF Walk/Run. Incidentally, that brings up another brave decision that I credit to Katie: the choice to inform and educate our kids about what it means for Dad to have cancer. The truth hurts sometimes, but we never hid it from them. Katie helped me be up front and honest about my diagnosis with Cali and Tyler, which brought understanding for them and eventually healing for us all. Now they share in the excitement of preparing and participating in the MMRF Walk/Run every year.
Through the MMRF Walk/Run, Katie has created a tremendous amount of momentum with many other “True Believers” out there who will not back down and insist on winning the fight against myeloma. Here are just a few photos of the team.
In my personal battle with myeloma, I have always been able to draw strength from music. Very specifically, I am motivated by punk rock bands from the 1980s and 1990s who, after grueling 30-year and sometimes 40-year music careers, still manage to get up and go out and sing their punk rock anthems year after year. I admire these groups for standing up for what they believe in for so long. I also imagine it takes great physical strength to endure decades of songwriting, record making, and concert touring to promote their musical message.
It gives me hope to know that these musicians are able to persevere, even as their bodies age. Their songs have survived for all these years, and knowing that helps me overcome obstacles on my own long-term journey with myeloma.
Do you have a favorite mantra, quote, lyric that gives you strength?
As a matter of fact, I have many! Here are a few recent photos of the durable musicians discussed above and an example of a song lyric from each. These lyrics give me hope and strength every day. (Note, these are all personal photos I took in the last year, proof that the music and this patient are both still strong today!)
It means that it’s working—the medicine, the fundraising, the research, those ugly days and hospital nights and long drives and hot/cold/rainy/windy laps at the MMRF Walk/Run. It means it’s all working. As cancer patients, we all need that validation every once in a while: a reminder that not only is there a light at the end of the tunnel, but’s it’s getting brighter and brighter all the time.
I am thrilled to share this Spirit of Hope recognition with all the friends, family, patients, MMRF reps, walk/run volunteers, punk rock bands, Chemosabes, and True Believers out there. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the hope and validation you provide us every single day!
The MMRF is delighted to recognize Adam Ralston as the MMRF Spirit of Hope Honoree at the 2024 MMRF Team for Cures: Boston Walk/Run. Donate to his team “True Believers” to accelerate a cure!
This award is presented at every Walk/Run to a patient, caregiver, or family who inspires hope through their resilience, perseverance, and dedication to the MMRF and its mission.
I want to share an inspirational story about one of the athletes I train. His name is Marc Schiff (@maschiff), he’ll be 61 years “young” next month, and I’ve been working with him since 2017. While Marc has been athletic his entire life, he never considered himself a runner. And although he ran track as a sprinter for a couple of years in high school, running was more of a necessary evil to stay in shape for baseball and lacrosse. Then, in late 2012 a cancer survivor friend asked him if he’d run a 5K in Phoenix to benefit Colon Cancer. He thought what the heck, why not, it’s only 3.1 miles! So he worked his way up to the distance on a treadmill over a few weeks leading to race day and was ready to go. Little did he know his life would be changed forever! He ran a 28:43 5K which was good for a 6th place AG finish. One year later he ran the same 5K in 23:51 and landed on the podium, and all of sudden he became a runner! Since then Marc has completed 25 half marathons, 2 Ragnar Road Relays, 3 full marathons and countless 5Ks, 10Ks and 15Ks. He’s also run Pat’s Run 7 years in a row and the Mesa-Phoenix Half/Full 6 straight years.
I met Marc for the first time in 2016 at the Gilbert Half Marathon Expo and started working with him shortly thereafter. He felt like he was stagnating at the Half Marathon distance and wanted to work his way up to the Full. His first Full Marathon was the 2017 Rock ‘n Roll Arizona and he finished at a respectable 4:27. But he wasn’t the least bit satisfied. He went back to work and set his sights on the 2017 Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego full. Unfortunately, he tore a hamstring 10 days before the race during his last long run and it was back to the drawing board. Marc worked his way back and his next goal race was the 2018 Mesa-Phoenix full. We set his A Goal at 4:15 which would be a stretch but not completely out of reach. He ended up finishing in 4:18 with an unplanned porta-potty stop at mile 21! That was good for a 9 min PR! Still not satisfied, Marc’s next goal race was the 2018 NYC Marathon. This was particularly special for him as he and his entire family are from Brooklyn and he hadn’t been back in almost 40 years. Marc’s training was going well, and he wanted to set his sights on a 4:00 finish. Knowing the course well I told him that was too aggressive so we backed it down to 4:15. Then, once again, injury struck, this time a stress fracture in his left foot! After 8 weeks in a boot NYC was out of the question so he had to defer to 2019. Once again it was back to work, this time essentially starting over. I eased Marc back to running slowly and by June he was pretty much back to his pre-injury fitness level, running the Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Half in 1:57. He was healthy heading into NYC with his final long-run being a 2:01 finish at the Lake Powell Half in October. Because of his previous injuries we decided not to set a goal time for NYC and instead just run for the experience of it all and have fun. He finished in 4:33, which for that course, and considering the huge crowds and multiple bridges, isn’t anything to be ashamed of.
Now most runners would be satisfied to take a break for a few months, but not Marc. He was already registered for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Half in January and Mesa-Phoenix Full in February! Thankfully I was able to talk some sense into him and he dropped down to the Half for Mesa-Phoenix, which by the way, he ran in 1:58! Little did we know this would be the last live race before COVID-19 shut everything down. I’m sure it’s no surprise that he embraced the virtual racing phenomena head first. Not only did he run virtual races almost every weekend, but he organized and led a weekly Virtual Group Run that attracted more than 50 runners from all over the US as well as Canada, New Zealand, Australia and England! This week will be the 8th.
So now that I’ve given you a sense of Marc’s grit and determination, this next part is where the real inspiration comes in. On May 7th, I got a text from him telling me that he had just been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a relatively rare form of blood cancer. This particular cancer is in the bone marrow and it primarily affects the white blood cells that defend the body from infection and fight viruses. Instead, the cancerous white blood cells crowd out the healthy cells which results in a compromised immune system; not good ever but especially during a global pandemic! And if that’s not bad enough, the cancerous cells attack the bones from the inside out and cause “cystic lesions”, which in layman’s terms are holes in the bones. A PET Scan showed “innumerable” lesions throughout his body. This condition causes localized bone weakness and makes him much more prone to stress fractures, a runner’s nightmare. Marc started chemotherapy a week later and has just completed his first cycle. While the first results look promising, this is the “marathon of all marathons”. One without a finish line. There is currently no cure for Multiple Myeloma, although it is treatable. And luckily for Marc, it was caught in Stage 1. But the road ahead will be long and hard. Weekly chemotherapy treatments for 6 months followed by a Stem Cell Transplant to essentially wipe out the bone marrow and start over. He’ll then be on maintenance medication for the rest of his life. The side effects of the chemo are not fun; nausea, fatigue, insomnia, neuropathy and weight gain from taking highdose steroids. Add a compromised immune system on top and you get the picture.
I spoke with Marc yesterday and he said he’s doing pretty well under the circumstances. He sounded upbeat and positive. I was expecting him to say he wanted to discontinue coaching, but not surprised at all when he said just the opposite! He told me that he wanted to keep running as long as his body allowed it. He wants the accountability of having a plan to follow. He wants to remain a part of the BTB team and stay connected to the running community. He’s willing to roll out of bed at 5:00 am to beat the Arizona heat. I actually saw on Strava that he ran a 10K this morning at 6:00 am! And for those days that he can’t, he’s purchased a treadmill so he can run later in the day. If that’s not dedication, I don’t know what is. When we talked about me sharing his story on Instagram he made a point of telling me that he doesn’t want people’s pity or to be treated special because of his condition. He’s a runner who happens to have cancer, not a cancer patient who happens to run. He wants to bring awareness to this cruel disease and provide hope and inspiration to those who are also facing hardships and adversity. A positive outlook and strong network of supporters can work miracles.
If you’d like to learn more about Multiple Myeloma, or make a donation to help fund research to find a cure and make treatment more affordable, Marc’s posted some links in his profile. You can follow him to keep up with his journey. While there may be no new PRs for the foreseeable future, this is a race that he must win, and I’m 100% confident if anyone can it’s Marc
My involvement with MMRF started in 2019 while I was undergoing my induction therapy. I was at my infusion center for one of my weekly treatments and decided I wanted to do something to help find a cure for Multiple Myeloma. I came up with an idea to create a t-shirt that I could sell to raise money that would be donated to the MMRF. I’m an avid runner and part of a huge Facebook group of runners who I knew would be more than happy to purchase one. I sold the shirts at cost and asked people to add whatever donation they could. I ended up selling 80 shirts and raised $1800. With my company match, $3,600 was donated to the MMRF.
I chose the MMRF Walk/Run for several reasons, the most important being that I am a multiple myeloma “survivor” myself. I was diagnosed in April 2019 and underwent a stem cell transplant in November 2020. Knowing that there is no current cure, I want to make whatever difference I can, and participating in the MMRF Walk/Run is one way to do so. I also enlisted fellow runners, friends, and family to participate in person or virtually or to just donate.
I am so humbled to receive this award. Since my diagnosis, I have tried my best to be a role model for other myeloma patients or anyone dealing with similar life-altering diagnoses. I used social media to document my journey to inspire others and instill hope. I continued to run during my induction therapy and made a commitment to myself to run a half marathon within 6 months of my stem cell transplant. I even registered for one a day after my transplant! I lived up to this commitment by running the Glacier Half Marathon in Montana in May 2021. I wanted to show others that you don’t have to be defined by the disease.
As I’ve mentioned several times already, I’m an avid runner and have a wonderful community that supports me. One special running friend, Julie Love, who was the same age as me, was diagnosed with glioblastoma a couple of years before my diagnosis. She knew it was a death sentence and was given 18 months to live. Through sheer will, faith, and determination, she survived for 3 years before finally succumbing. Throughout this time, she continued to enter 5K’s and complete them, even when having to use a cane. I ran with her numerous times throughout this period. My first call after getting my diagnosis was to Julie, as I knew she’d have the right words to say. Her story gave me the courage to face my disease with the same strength.
Two quotes give me strength. I wear a bracelet with a metal tag that a friend gave me a few days after my SCT while I was still in the hospital. It says, “Stronger than yesterday.” I’ve only taken it off once in almost 4 years! I tag all my runs with “#strongerthanyesterday.” The other quote is “No Limits.” I borrowed this one from Pat’s Run, a local run in honor of Pat Tillman, a former Arizona State University (my alma mater) and Arizona Cardinals football player who gave up an NFL career to serve his country. Sadly, he was KIA in Afghanistan. I’ve participated in the run for 9 consecutive years, including virtually during COVID. This mantra means so much to me that I got it tattooed on my left calf.
See link to a story that my running coach published to her social media accounts.
The MMRF is delighted to recognize Marc Schiff as the MMRF Spirit of Hope Honoree at the 2024 MMRF Team for Cures: Scottsdale Walk/Run. Donate to his team “Runners & Walkers United” to accelerate a cure!
This award is presented at every Walk/Run to a patient, caregiver, or family who inspires hope through their resilience, perseverance, and dedication to the MMRF and its mission.
Hal Anderson considers his life to consist of two phases, which he labels BC and AD. BC is before cancer, and AD is after diagnosis.
Before cancer, Hal had served 31 years on active duty in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Captain. He was a career nuclear submarine officer who commanded the USS SHARK. During his career in submarines, his approach to problem solving was to gather the facts, research possible options, seek the best available advice, decide the best course of action, and carry out the plan.
When he was diagnosed with Stage 3a multiple myeloma in 1998 after suffering multiple compression fractures of his lower spine, Hal took the same approach to solving this new problem. Options for treatment were limited in 1998. Being in his mid 50s, the standard of care consisted of a three-drug combination of chemotherapy followed by an autologous stem cell transplant. After eight cycles of VAD and the transplant, Hal enjoyed about two years of remission. When he relapsed in 2001, there were still no new approved options for treatment, but thalidomide, only approved for treating leprosy at the time, was showing benefit for some patients. So, Hal used thalidomide, off label, for a few years until Revlimid became available.
The two years after his transplant, 1999–2001, was the only time frame in which Hal was in remission after his diagnosis in 1998. Otherwise, he has been treated with various combinations of drugs that have been able to keep the myeloma under control.
When the MMRF started doing 5Ks in 2001, Hal and his mentor signed up for the Chicago event. They didn’t know anything about fundraising that first year, but every year since then, Hal has made an effort to help raise money for research into better treatments and a cure for myeloma. To celebrate 10 years of survivorship in 2008, Hal set his goal at $10,000 and raised it by $1,000 each subsequent year until it reached $20,000, which has been his goal every year since then.
Hal’s advice for surviving myeloma for 26 years is the approach outlined above:
Hal is benefiting from his early years of fundraising by using drugs that are products of the research he helped fund 20 years ago. He encourages you to follow his example.
The MMRF is delighted to recognize Hal Anderson as the MMRF Spirit of Hope Honoree at the 2024 MMRF Team for Cures: Detroit Walk/Run. Donate to his fundraising page to accelerate a cure today!
This award is presented at every Walk/Run to a patient, caregiver, or family who inspires hope through their resilience, perseverance, and dedication to the MMRF and its mission.
Our “Richard’s Rangers” team was formed by our family for the MMRF Race for Research in Philadelphia in 2010 as a way to honor our husband, father, and grandfather, Richard A. Englander and fundraise and spread awareness for the disease. Richard was a patient of Dr. Edward Stadtmauer at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He had told Richard about the wonderful work of the MMRF to educate patients and caregivers and to fund important research to find a cure. We have been supporting the MMRF ever since!
We first chose to participate in the MMRF Walk/Run because it was a way that the three generations of our family (even very young children) could come together to do something to support Richard as he was battling multiple myeloma. His story is nothing short of miraculous. He was diagnosed in 1988, had a stem cell harvest in 1997 and transplant in 2000, and was given several novel treatments along the way. He was able to walk with us in 2010 and for several years following until he passed away in 2016. The MMRF’s help in developing new ways to fight myeloma, without a doubt, gave Richard a chance to live for over 20 years following his diagnosis.
It is an honor for Richard’s Rangers to be recognized with this award. We are indebted to the MMRF for the groundbreaking research that continues to this day to treat multiple myeloma to allow future generations of patients to live their lives to the fullest as Richard did. He was an inspiration to us, never wavering in his desire to beat his cancer and to give others hope.
Since Richard’s death in 2016, we have all tried to honor him by living our lives like he did. Richard was incredibly loving and was adored by all who met him. He trusted in God and his doctors and endured many years of treatment with grace and dignity.
We are looking forward to having our whole family together again in Philadelphia this October to walk in Richard’s memory and to support the MMRF!
The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation is delighted to recognize Richard’s Rangers as the MMRF Spirit of Hope Honoree at the 2024 MMRF Team for Cures: Philadelphia Walk/Run.
This award is presented at every Walk/Run to a patient, caregiver, or family who inspires hope through their resilience, perseverance, and dedication to the MMRF and its mission.
My sister, Christine Serra, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in September 2007. The next year when I ran the Chicago Marathon, I decided to fundraise for the MMRF and have been continuing to fundraise ever since.
Soon after Christine was diagnosed, we formed Christine’s Crusaders. A large group of friends and family came out year after year to run and walk alongside her while she battled myeloma for six years. The MMRF gives so much of what is fundraised to research. While Christine passed away in 2013, Christine’s Crusaders have continued to fundraise to honor her memory and give hope to others battling the disease.
Receiving this award means that while Christine is not with us, her spirit lives on. We hope to carry the torch of inspiration. It shows that all our work over the years is giving hope to others.
Christine is the most selfless person I have ever met. The most important thing she gave was her time. She would drop what she was doing to donate her time to a cause, volunteer at her children’s school, or just make time to listen. She was very cognizant that time was a precious gift. I try to live my life like her, making time for others.
The MMRF is delighted to recognize Christine’s Crusaders as the MMRF Spirit of Hope Honoree at the 2024 MMRF Team for Cures: Atlanta Walk/Run.
This award is presented at every Walk/Run to a patient, caregiver, or family who inspires hope through their resilience, perseverance, and dedication to the MMRF and its mission. Donate to Christine’s Crusaders 2024 Walk/Run fundraising page to accelerate a cure today!
Dennis and I didn’t always have cancer. We were in the middle of a sailing circumnavigation, when I first started noticing how fatigued Dennis was getting. I would think that’s how I will feel someday when I get to be Dennis’s age (we were ten years apart in age). And then I noticed that we were both losing weight, but I thought that was from a healthy lifestyle living off the grid. But then I started getting fatigued too, which I attributed to the fact that I was doing more of the sailing and chores because Dennis was so tired and taking more naps.
All the signs of cancer were there for the two of us, but it took a boating accident off a remote island in Northern Australia that prompted us to get medical attention. Because we didn’t have immediate access to good medical care, it took us a little over three months of sailing from Australia via Indonesia up to Singapore to get a proper diagnosis; we were told to go home immediately.
Once home, the doctors officially diagnosed Dennis with multiple myeloma. Because myeloma was my husband’s first cancer diagnosis, we both felt that it was important to support and fundraise for this treatable, but not curable, cancer. Dennis started the tradition as he wanted to do something and felt that this was something that he could do from a hospital bed in the cancer clinic. Our hopes were for a cure and to keep those treatments coming for those patients like Dennis who did not respond to the available treatments. Sadly, Dennis exhausted all the treatments, so it’s important to keep pushing for more treatments until there is a cure.
MMRF is considered one of the best charitable organizations where your dollar goes the furthest to fund research for a cure; that’s important! It’s a dream of mine to have a world without cancer.
After I finished cancer treatment, Dennis and I started participating in the MMRF walks. He wanted to do something for the fight and realized that he could call family and friends for donations while getting chemo and blood/platelet infusions. While Dennis was in the early stages of his cancer, he was able to participate in the walks. Dennis was getting treatment at UCSF and we felt that it was important to support both MMRF and UCSF. We also have three neighbors (Bob, Alan, and Robin) fighting myeloma; plus, I lost a high school classmate (Gary) to myeloma, so the MMRF mission is near and dear to our hearts.
I am a grateful cancer survivor but have sadly lost many of my family members to cancer. This includes my husband Dennis Millard (total of four cancers: two blood cancers multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukemia; head and neck cancer; and skin melanoma); my sister Teri Bent, my brother-in-law Mike Millard; my niece Heidi Chamberlain, my daughter-in-law Theresa (the mother of my three grandchildren, Brenton, Alex, and Maddie); my Aunt Pat; and many others. They are why this is a very meaningful honor. There is also an alarming rise of cancer amongst young people, including my niece Claire Bent, who was diagnosed with colon cancer at only 34 years old with a young baby not even six months old. I am grateful that I was cured but truly feel that I must carry the torch for those who have not been so fortunate. Every time there is a survivor, I jump for joy. I was deeply touched when I received this honor because volunteering/fundraising is how I channel my grief. It gives me hope for a cure and encourages me to continue volunteering. Thank you to the MMRF!
I often wished that Dennis had a treatable/curable tumor cancer instead of blood cancer, which can be difficult to treat. The multiple cancer diagnoses, including two blood cancers, were tough. I thought to myself if there were one more diagnosis, I might jump off a cliff, but you can see that I haven’t. And because Dennis hung in there, so did I.
I actually found that caregiving was my most intimate time with Dennis, a period of my life with him that I truly cherished. We were together for nearly 40 years, and fighting cancer together only made our love for each other grow stronger.
We quickly learned to shift our focus from what we could do rather than focus on what we could not do. We shared some of the best times in our life during our cancer years, doing the simple things—whether it was sitting on a park bench watching the world turn while holding hands or so many others activities, including the simple joys of birdwatching, eating ice cream, cycling around the block, and even traveling some too. We would spend days in the clinic going through photos, playing backgammon, eating pastries, watching old movies, cheering the Warriors, and getting to know the nurses we were seeing on a very regular basis. We made the best of the limited time that we had together.
Also, the quality time that we did have was a result of treatments that were available to Dennis, which is why it’s so important to support the MMRF.
You could often hear Dennis and I say, “It is what it is, so let’s make the most out of life.” And that old saying, “one day at a time,” also helped us to keep our focus on what was important rather than fretting too much on all the realities of cancer that we were facing. Often, we would refer to the “bag of tricks” when we thought that there was nothing more available, but Dennis’s doctors would find something to keep Dennis going, thanks to the MMRF.
The MMRF is delighted to recognize MaryLee Millard as the MMRF Spirit of Hope Honoree at the 2024 MMRF Team for Cures: San Francisco Walk/Run. Donate to her team “Spirit of Hope” team to accelerate a cure!
This award is presented at every Walk/Run to a patient, caregiver, or family who inspires hope through their resilience, perseverance, and dedication to the MMRF and its mission.
On April 26, 2017, I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. After an initial round of treatment, I had a stem cell transplant and have been on Darzalex ever since. I am lucky and grateful to be MRD negative and to have access to the best myeloma specialists and drugs. Since being diagnosed, I have had seven more birthdays, enjoyed my summers, played tons of canasta, taken family trips to Mexico and romantic trips abroad, and celebrated several high school and college graduations. Jeff and I have celebrated seven more wedding anniversaries—and this year, we mark 30 amazing years. Last year, we celebrated my oldest daughter’s wedding. I am very lucky, and I know I am not alone. I have the most amazing family and friends who not only support me, but they also support a groundbreaking organization that is on the path to curing myeloma, the MMRF.
When I support the MMRF, it’s because I want to see more new drugs approved and I want more people to have access to innovative therapies and MM specialists. In just the last 7 years, many new drugs have been approved to treat MM, and because of that, I have hope no matter what the future brings. I want to live a long and healthy life. And I want that for you and your loved ones, too.
Since I was diagnosed in 2017, the MMRF has made great strides in the fight against cancer. Not only is it on the forefront of developing new drugs, but it also provides access to the latest online information and guidance through the Patient Navigator. And when new information comes out or I get confusing advice, someone is always there to help at the MMRF.
That’s why, with the support of my friends and family—and good people just like you —I’ve been able to raise more than a half a million dollars to support the MMRF. It’s the least I can do for the community that has given me so much.
In reality, I did not choose to sign up for the MMRF Walk/Run; my friends did. My friends who were by my side when I was diagnosed, the ones who drove me to my infusion treatments, and the ones who stepped up when I was in the hospital for 3 weeks and 100 days at home after the transplant all wanted to do even more. The MMRF Run/Walk was perfect: matching t-shirts, hats and gloves, and a picturesque walk along the Hudson River, the perfect opportunity to raise awareness and money.
I am grateful for the recognition, but my participation and work with the MMRF has always just seemed like the right thing to do. The commitment comes from MMRF’s mission, at least how I see it: developing new treatments and advancing access to those treatment no matter where you are located or what your financial means are. I am proud to work with this great organization and look forward to continuing to help in any way I can.
Other than the physical obstacles related to treatment, which now just seem routine, the mental shock of this diagnosis and always knowing this disease seems capable of reoccurring at any time, has been the hardest to overcome. However, mentors (and now friends) who have gone through what I am going through have been invaluable. Talking to someone with myeloma can provide critical information, a shoulder to cry on, or just someone with whom to vent. My friend Mary Jane has been my go-to person since almost the beginning, and without her, I don’t believe I would be in this great place I am in now. Because of that, I always make myself available to people newly diagnosed, again, to give advice, listen to them cry, and to provide encouragement that life can still be great, even with myeloma.
Whether you’re battling multiple myeloma yourself, accompanying a loved one on their journey, or caring for patients, I know you understand—this is not an easy road to walk, ever. What gives me hope is that the next dollar I raise or the next dollar I give could be the one that brings about the newest lifesaving drug … or even a cure!
You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate. I’m on maintenance therapy now, following a stem-cell transplant not long after my diagnosis. Each new drug that comes out could add years to my life and the life of someone like you or someone you love.
The MMRF is delighted to recognize Valerie Malsch as the MMRF Spirit of Hope Honoree at the 2024 MMRF Team for Cures: New York Walk/Run. Donate to her fundraising page to accelerate a cure today!
This award is presented at every Walk/Run to a patient, caregiver, or family who inspires hope through their resilience, perseverance, and dedication to the MMRF and its mission.
