Moving Mountains for Multiple Myeloma (MM4MM) is a collaboration between CURE Media Group and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation to raise awareness

Hiking the Bright Angel Trail in the Southern Rim of the Grand Canyon is a one of the most challenging and iconic hikes in the US. While over 5 million people visit the Grand Canyon every year, less than 1% step foot on a trail, and a small fraction of those take on this difficult hike. With over 4300 of vertical hiking down, and then UP, completed in one day, this trek also adds the obstacle of temperature change. While it might be a comfortable 75 degrees up top, hikers encounter heat reaching 110 and above in the depths of the canyon.

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 I'm hiking with my mom who was diagnosed in February 2015 with multiple myeloma. I'm excited to be participating in this hike to help support the MMRF in raising awareness for this horrible disease!

George DeChello

 in Jan of this year with four Multiple Myeloma patients, my life will be forever changed by the strength and determination of those patients, that against all odds undertook climbing the highest free standing mountain in the world. They did it to raise money through the MMRF to help find a CURE for this intolerable disease.
My entire life I have been surrounded by Cancer from my family members to working in cancer publishing and now as the Director Cancer Patient Education at CURE Magazine.

This time I am honored to have my wife Mariana join me to raise money for this important cause, Mariana’s has made it her personal mission to help educate the Hispanic community about early detection, healthy life style. 24% of all cancer patients in the USA are Hispanic and as Mariana says ”Knowledge is Power”

Marty Murphy

 We want to do whatever we can to make a difference for patients like myself and for others living with multiple myeloma.

 Donna: I have always been active, being outdoors I love the best. I have always challenged myself to be the best that I can be and have been blessed with a great attitude and energy level to accomplish things I have desired to do thru the years.

In September 2013 I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, high risk, (the autumn after celebrating my 70th Birthday), one can only imagine the shock when the Doctor told me I had 2 to 3 years to live. The myeloma had left bone lesions in my spine that caused extreme pain and until the Chemo could stop the progress of the Myeloma I was unable to move without help. It took a few months before I was functioning again. It was scary to be so disabled. It took a toll on me, I lost confidence in myself and the fear set in, what if. Do I, Can I, Will I ever..?

I did what I have always told my children to do, "I picked myself up, brushed myself off and started all over again". I searched for resources to help me be strong, mentally and physically, to live my life the best that I could, to change my attitude, my body and my everyday living. I have the most wonderful husband, best friend, caregiver beside me helping me all the way. AND, now I have accepted the challenge to "Conquer the Canyon". WOW

Donna (patient) & Bud (caregiver) Cowan

 Being a patient is a lot of waiting and a lot of brooding. It feels good to step outside that role and take an active part in fighting the disease. If it can be in a great place in good company, even better :)

I was diagnosed 2 years ago. At that point, extensive bone damage along my spine was crippling my life: I could barely walk and needed assistance to get in and out of bed. My wife Veronique, my kids Erin and Matteo, and my close friends have been a tremendous support during those hard times. Eventually, the therapy brought the disease under control, and I started recovering, step by step. My oncologist suggested that I do a stem cell transplant, which worked well. But this was also more time with little to no energy. I've never been the athletic type before, but there was so much pleasure in being active again! Veronique had already started running MMRF races. I'm very happy I can share this with her and with my daughter. I hope the drugs coming out of the MMRF trials will let me do that for many years to come.

Frederic Gobry (patient)

TO SUPPORT PATIENTS, CAREGIVERS AND THOSE WHO WORK TO FIND A CURE

I work for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), and founded the MMRF Endurance Events Program in 2007. I’ve run 10 marathons, several of them side by side with myeloma patients, caregivers and myeloma medical professionals. . In January, I was honored to take on the biggest physical challenge of my life. I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest free standing mountain in the world (19,341 ft) with a team of 15 to raise funds and awareness for multiple myeloma research. Reaching the summit along side 4 myeloma patients and 10 myeloma loved ones was such an incredibly powerful experience. I came down the mountain a different person.

In May I had the privilege of hiking the Grand Canyon with 3 patients, a myeloma doctor and several myeloma caregivers. What an empowering and incredible experience THAT was!

Next up in the trifecta: Hiking the Inca Trail in Peru l to Machu Picchu. This team of twenty includes 4 patients, 4 myeloma nurses as well as a myeloma doctor. Others on the team are caregivers and friends of patients who climb to raise funds and awareness for this difficult blood cancer.

Let the adventure continue! I'm so excited to put my body on the line and walk side-by-side with so many wonderful people who are taking action and are moving mountains to find a cure! Bring it on!

ALICIA O’NEILL

 It is not often that a scientist who works in the lab and develops the drugs gets to interact with the patients who benefit from the drugs. I’m looking forward to meeting and interacting with my team mates to share the science/stories behind MM as a disease and how we all impact each others lives.

 I am a scientist who works in the lab designing and developing novel drugs to cure cancer. I did have played a role in developing Ninlaro during its discovery and development. Brother of a close friend of mine got diagnosed with MM and eventually passed away. Therefore, MM has impacted my personal and business life. Every sleepless night we spent in the lab and hard, is definitely making an impact in peoples lives. But, we are far from completing the task of curing cancer completely and saving patients. Every small step that each of us take, helps in a big way in this long and arduous task. Go Team!!!

Karuppiah Kannan

 In January 2015, after many years of undiagnosed head and neck pain, I started having double vision, vision loss and painful tongue spasms that made swallowing almost impossible. An MRI showed a large plasma cytoma in my skull which lead to the multiple myeloma diagnosis. I had spent my entire life focused on health and fitness which seemed to make the diagnosis doubly cruel. Should have spent more time eating junk food apparently...I've had radiation to the tumor which shrunk it quite a bit. Vision is pretty good and spasms stopped. Did the Velcade, Rev, Dex routine and I've had a very good partial response. I feel incredibly grateful that I'm able to do this hike with my son! To go from where I was a year ago to training for this hike is a miracle. Without the MMRF I wouldn't be here. I'll give back to this organization for as long as I'm here...and thanks to them I'm planning on that being a really long time! They are laser focused and I'll be eternally grateful for that. I'm doing this hike for me, the MMRF and all the patients who have come before me.

Jennifer DeChello (patient)

 When a Mayo patient and good friend, Bob, asked me to take a hike for Multiple Myeloma and for the MMRF...there was little hesitation in saying yes! Bob started his own MM endurance hike in 2009. He has been an ongoing contributor to MM research both clinically and financially since his diagnosis. He continues to spend time researching what is next in line for him when the need for a treatment change presents itself. He is one of many MM patients that look to the MMRF research programs for treatment while praying daily for a cure for all. I admire and support this empowerment of his. My Conquer the Canyon hiking partner is my husband, Vishnu. One week after agreeing to MM4MM , Vishnu's brother was diagnosed with MM. He has learned more than he ever wanted to know about MM over the past 4 months and how important advocacy for a MM patient truly is. This endurance hike is now symbolic for us so many different levels.

 (What is your connection to multiple myeloma? What would you like us to know about you?) I have been an oncology nurse for 30 years and have been witness to powerful cancer victories and as many or more cancer defeats. The privilege to work with incredible physicians, nurses, mentors, patients and their advocates has been a humbling and heart warming experience. For the past 9 years I have been in the role of Research Nurse for the Hematology Clinical Trials Group at Mayo Clinic Florida. An important part of my role at Mayo includes that of a Multiple Myeloma Program Manager for the MMRF. To witness the progress being made in cancer research that is expanding treatment options for MM patients and improving their quality of life for longer periods of time is indeed exciting. I am tasked with assisting patients and their families through the treatment pipelines and the navigation of clinical trial processes. The course of life for a patient with multiple myeloma is the true "Endurance Hike"! My husband and I are excited to Conquer the Canyon and to obtain our fund raising goal for MM research. We are overwhelmed by the generosity of friends and family for their recent contributions to support MM research through this MM4MM process.

Michele Maharaj

 (What is your connection to multiple myeloma? What would you like us to know about you?) I'm walking for my dad and everybody else that we are helping. I'm doing the challenge because like everyone else who's also walking, I care I lot and it's very important to me.

Erin Gobry

 Currently reside in Hamilton, NJ - don't have a hometown as I've lived in so many places.

 I lost my dad on March 30, 2006 to multiple myeloma and want to help make a difference for others in his memory.

(What is your connection to multiple myeloma? What would you like us to know about you?)

 I'm doing this to honor my dad, Arturo, who died of MM. He brought us here from Cuba in 1962 and struggled to make a good life for us despite his illnesses. He taught me to love life, take risks and never be afraid. He loved intensely and because of that, so do I.

Griselda Marquez Demassey

 A few years ago, one of my closest friends died after a battle with Multiple Myeloma. This past Christmas, my brother was diagnosed with MM after surgery for a spinal cord compression revealed a plasmacytoma. He is currently enrolled in a clinical trial at Mayo Clinic. Every day is now a learning experience on how to live with this disease.

 (What is your connection to multiple myeloma? What would you like us to know about you?) A few years ago, one of my closest friends died after a battle with Multiple Myeloma. This past Christmas, my brother was diagnosed with MM after surgery for a spinal cord compression revealed a plasmacytoma. He is currently enrolled in a clinical trial at Mayo Clinic. Every day is now a learning experience on how to live with this disease .

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