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It is finally here! For months we have been counting down the days until Iceland!

As soon as the team reassembled, it was like we picked up right where we left off on the training hike! After navigating the airport we took a shuttle to our hotel right in the heart of Reykjavik. We walked around the city and had lunch at a cute little cafe. The fish and chips was delicious!.

It is hard to put into words how beautiful this city is: fresh air, sunshine and something new to look at on every corner. Most of the team took a redeye flight so we were pretty exhausted and decided to head back to the hotel for a quick nap. We then walked to dinner and window shopped along the way. We had a dinner of pasta and pizza. Carb loading was a must for tomorrow’s trek! We headed back to the hotel to pack our bags for the big adventure.

Overall the team is so excited to be together and we can’t wait for the journey we will take over the next few days!

My father would have loved to see and hear about this trip. He would have thought I was crazy for wanting to go somewhere cold! I choked up at dinner when telling my reason for being part of the trek to my teammates because I love to tell his story.

I am so honored to be a part of this team and form bonds that will be for life.

With that I will say goodnight, even though it does not ever get really dark in Iceland during the summer.

Next stop to move mountains!

Eat, Sleep, Hike

I’ve never done anything like this before. There are so many aspects of this that I’ve never done before. So how do you prepare for something that you’ve never done, and has so many variables? You just do it, because it matters so much.

When my best friend from college, who has been battling multiple myeloma for a decade, called and asked me to join him on the Moving Mountains for Multiple Myeloma Fire and Ice Trek across Iceland, I jumped at the chance. Well, maybe crawled at the chance. The opportunity to spend this time with my friend, the opportunity to raise funds for his care and research for finding a cure for his awful disease, was something I didn’t want to pass up. Going this far from home, away from my family and business, to a place I’ve only heard of but knew nothing about, was daunting.

Here we are, just weeks from heading out on this trek, and the question sitting heavy on my mind is, “Am I ready?” How do I know if I’m prepared for something like this? Physically, I know I’m ready. I am an avid trail runner in the beautiful mountains of Colorado. Knowing I can run 15 miles at 8500’ altitude assures me that I can handle the trek. But there are so many differences.

Look at the name of this trek. Fire and Ice. Where does that come from? We will be crossing lava fields in Iceland (fire), and camping sandwiched between two glaciers (ice). Temperatures will be in the 50’s or 60’s, maybe 70’s. It’ll be raining, unless it’s hailing, except when it’s sunny. How do you stay dry, warm, cool, and comfortable in all of those situations?

Fortunately, we have help. The guides that the MMRF are providing with us have prepared us well. I have my Solomon boots, my Osprey pack, my LuLu layers and my NorthFace and Patagonia jackets. My extensive packing list has check marks next to every item. I think I’m ready.

Now, to prepare mentally. I’m not a camper, I like my luxuries and conveniences. I know my body is ready. I know my backpack is ready. Fortunately, the WHY behind this trip is so much bigger than the WHAT. Shoes, socks, jackets, hats...none of the “whats” that I’m bringing really matter when held up to the purpose of why I’m going. I’m spending invaluable time with my best friend of 24 years. I’m helping him raise funds and awareness that will serve him and serve future multiple myeloma patients.

So how do you prepare for Fire and Ice? You do the best you can with the amazing guidance the MMRF provides, you gain perspective, and you get on the plane!

 How Do You Prepare For Fire and Ice?

I like my sleep. It is surprising that having spent a 23-hour day of travel (yesterday and early this morning) to get home here in Western New York after our Fire and Ice Trek in Iceland that I am able to put words together for this blog. I am however, feeling compelled to do so because of what needs to be shared.

First of all, the presence of a divine blessing permeated our team experience. Our training hike in June initiated a sense of purpose and belonging that was palpable. That beginning was only enhanced as we gathered in Reykjavik and looked forward to our hike. I think we all felt excited and happy. Multiple myeloma is a terrible disease but the tragedy that brought us together was going to be overcome by our hopes and commitment.

Secondly, the weather we encountered was perfect. Oh, it was chilly and sometimes windy and bone-cold but the sun was out for us each day. Blue skies were an appropriate companion for how we felt. The challenges were real. The trek demanded hard work and concentration as we carried our packs up and over mountains, across snowfields and rocky paths near steep drop-offs. Through it all, we kept a very positive outlook and took care of each other with genuine compassion.

Thirdly, I think our journey taught us individually and collectively life lessons that were and will continue to be invaluable. Personally, I learned the hard lesson of humility. I wanted to be able to keep up with those on the team much younger than myself - but couldn’t. At 66 years old and a veteran of the battle with multiple myeloma I have changed. I took my training for this event seriously but my lungs just couldn’t keep my oxygen levels at a comfortable level on the uphill slogs. I had to slow down. When they offered, I allowed our guides to carry my pack on the second day when the trail was mostly uphill. I was reminded of the scriptural admonition “Pride goes before the fall.” I considered how true those words were for me as I focused on keeping upright.

Everything came together in a magical moment as we approached our finish line - the Skogarfoss Waterfall. Not as high or wide as Niagara Falls but Skogarfoss offered a unique experience. We walked right up to the falls itself and got as wet as we wanted. The amazing moment was enhanced by the appearance of a rainbow! This rainbow was not a mile high – it seemed to hover right over our group! While my body was sore and tired, I felt a surge of energy as we were lifted together in a moment that will never be repeated.

The finish line of our trek was a celebration that included a sense of accomplishment. Not only for having finished the hike but also that our team raised over $208,000 for research to combat multiple myeloma. That total continues to grow. Other finish lines are ahead. A new school year, children growing up, jobs and for me a continuing journey with multiple myeloma. Until a cure is found I will remain focused on what will unfold for my life and the challenges of living with this disease. For today, I am thankful for each and every member of the 2019 Fire and Ice Team. I would like to thank Adventure Fundraising and Moving Mountains for Multiple Myeloma. I am thankful for generous sponsors like GSK that underwrote the event as well as Celgene, MMRF and CURE.
P.S. The Finish Line at Skogarfoss has given me a new appreciation of the land and the earth we live on. The magnificent snowfields and glaciers of Iceland are melting. Where last year there were thick fields of snow this year there was bare ground. Our guides who traveled the same route last year as we did this year were astounded at the changes. My humble opinion is that we all need to work together not just as Americans but citizens of this earth to do what we can to keep the ice in Iceland.



The Finish Line

I chose to come to work at GSK as global lead for patient advocacy for the company’s special purpose: to help patients do more, feel better and live longer. I was honored – and a little bit surprised – when I was asked to participate in the Iceland trek. Don’t get me wrong – the trek ties nicely into my role leading GSK’s oncology patient advocacy efforts but having never completed a hike as intense as this one, I must admit that I had my doubts on whether I was the right person and whether I would make it to the end. Ultimately, I decided to do the trek in honor of my stepmother and the bravery she displayed in her battle with cancer.

My stepmother was diagnosed last June with stage 4 T-cell lymphoma and had a short and ferocious fight with the illness. Throughout her ordeal, I could see the peaks and valleys in her outlook. After her diagnosis was finally confirmed, she started chemotherapy which took an extreme toll on her body. Though, even in the lowest of lows her spirits remained high, giving the family hope that she would make it through. She continued to fight on through low platelet counts, infusions, neutropenia and even neuropathy. Although she was the one with cancer, we were very much on the journey with her and trying to support her the best we could. Unfortunately, we lost her after only four months and my family is still grappling with how much of a whirlwind the whole experience was.

Throughout the trek I couldn’t help but think about the metaphorical mountains that my stepmother climbed while she was battling cancer. She confronted unknown terrain but was never alone in her journey. Of course, she had us, her family, but I now realize that she also had the support of a much larger community.

I was so moved by the Moving Mountains for Multiple Myeloma Iceland team, which along with representatives from GSK, included patients, caregivers, family members, a doctor, patient advocates and 

. I realized that just as was the case with my stepmother, that everyone who has been touched by cancer – be it a patient, caregiver, health care provider, friend – are all tied together. Much like our hike through Iceland and the bonds we made during our journey through this “Fire and Ice” landscape, it’s important that no one feels they are fighting cancer on their own. While I was traversing the nearly 25-mile trek, I had the invaluable opportunity to speak with patients, family members and physicians. I heard their experiences firsthand and was inspired by their fighting spirit. These are the conversations I will take back with me to further GSK’s commitment to the community of individuals impacted by multiple myeloma.

 You Are Not Alone

We are one week out from flying to Iceland in preparation for our hike! I am so ready to be reunited with my teammates. Most of us were able to make the training hike back in June, and we bonded so well as a group. We’ve had several team calls and now have a very active GroupMe chat going, and it only makes me more excited for this adventure. I can’t wait to see them so soon.

I signed up for this hike in honor of my mom. This trek will be challenging, and I know her determination and her fighting spirit will spur me on throughout the trip. I know this is something my mom would want to do, but physically it would be too much. I am grateful to be hiking on behalf of her and so many others who are fighting this disease.

I’m making last-minute orders for gear and gathering what I’ve already got. I’m the type of person who starts packing for a trip a few weeks out, and Iceland is no exception. It has been suggested that we bring along snacks for the trail to help keep us motivated between meals. I’m trying to decide what to take!

Ultimately, I am looking forward to this experience for so many reasons. The traveler in me is excited for the adventure and seeing new sights and wonders in a country I’ve never been to but have always wanted to visit.

But there is a bigger piece to this picture: I am looking forward to a cure. For my mom, for my teammates, for the family members and patients of my teammates, for the thousands of others battling this cancer.

Our group is made up of doctors, patients, caregivers and family members. We are a group of people with a connection to multiple myeloma who have become a family. It’s a reminder that no matter who we are or where we’ve come from---we have a common goal of eradicating multiple myeloma. With the support of our friends and family, we are helping the MMRF raise the necessary funds to do that.

Now let’s go hike Iceland!

 The Countdown is ON!

Family. What's your definition of family? I came across one today that states: "Family consists of nurturing relationships with compassion, love and care, and supporting its members during phases of hardship and troubles."

Any of us that have experienced hardships together as a family, especially cancer, can relate to that definition. When the news came that my older brother, John was diagnosed with multiple myeloma three years ago, having more than 80% of the cancer already in his bone marrow, it was time for our family to pull together in love and support. I found myself doing whatever I could to help, which included being able to thoroughly clean his house before he came home with no immune system after his stem cell transplant. I also become a caregiver during that time to give his wife, Bonnie much needed breaks. The hardest part of all of this for me besides not knowing what the outcome of his battle would be, was watching my big brother have to deal with such an incredible amount of pain mostly caused from 10 compression fractures in his spine. It was heartbreaking.

Days go by, and John has fought his battle with multiple myeloma well. The doctors gave John a life expectancy of three, maybe four years, and here we are three-and-a-half years later. We are once again facing something together, only this time it's full of hope and expectation as we are preparing to trek through Iceland for three days to raise funds and awareness for MMRF, as they work to find a cure for multiple myeloma.

It's beyond words how proud I am of my big brother, both as I watched him fight this terrible cancer, and now as I get to share in his victory as he conquers Iceland. Family is not only walking together through the difficult times, but also sharing in the victories and mountain top experiences. What an honor for me to experience both of those with John.

Family

I had absolutely no idea last December when I applied to attend the Iceland Fire and Ice excursion that this would forever change my life. I remember the interview day on the phone with you and then wondering if and hoping that you would pick me to be a part of the team. Then in January, I asked Dr. Martin to sign the release form knowing very well that exercise has not been my recent strength and leaving my house – especially flying on airplanes – lands me in the hospital each and every time. But I kept marching on, planning and learning all I could about this opportunity ahead. The months that followed were filled with so many changes in my personal journey. Repeated hospital stays, adding my Megan to the training hike, losing one of my best friends to cancer just before leaving for training hike, last-minute flight changes, then ultimately losing the Iceland adventure to my upcoming BEAM transplant plan in Arkansas in July. I had no idea what I was really going to be missing, so I just kept marching on.

Fast forward to our training hike weekend. The 2019 Iceland team, now people I will forever call “family” gave me hope and determination that has been dormant these past few years. Once a healthy overactive type A busy mom, athlete, coach, employee, community volunteer and person who hated napping, I have found myself living my days these past three years on my “perch" (aka the chair by the fireplace) living in a bubble – away from germs; napping hours a day often with no relief; walking instead of running; meds, meds and more meds; frequent admissions to the hospital (aka the “slammer”); breaking bones without even a good story to tell; and wondering what my future will look like with this multiple myeloma in my back pocket. That weekend I recognized pieces of the old me that I had almost forgotten existed. I felt safe, but not coddled, tired but able, and filled with hope for 2020.

My Megan, I don’t think I can accurately express my feelings of the love she felt that weekend from all of you. She now has an extended family of sisters, moms, aunties and even a pastor watching out for her. She is strengthened by all of your love.

These next few weeks will be filled with training and prepping for all of us. Just a little different for me. I find myself completely confident in the doctor’s treatment plans, but really just bummed on the effect it will have on the current and future life I have worked so hard to rebuild.

So together, let’s spend these next several weeks training and preparing for our different upcoming journeys, entering our big events with eyes wide open, prepared and ready to take on the world and coming out of it a stronger happier healthier person in every aspect.

My thoughts are simple really. Thankful, grateful and blessed. Thankful for my current and new family of friends and doctors who have given so much of themselves to better my life and the lives of others like me (and John and Erik). Grateful for Jane, Laura, Jen and the MMRF and GSK for their financial support and lifelong dedication to finding a cure for myeloma and to Nina for dedicating her life to helping patients like us. Blessed and filled with hope for the life that still lives within me both in 2020 and may many years ahead. (Jane please accept this as my official application for Iceland 2020).

Team, family and friends: Thanks for taking me with you to Iceland! I can’t wait to do this adventure with you all!

I can’t wait to take this journey with you. You have all strengthened me in so many ways.

 Reflections on the Training Hike

On August 7-11th, our twelfth MM4MM team will venture to Iceland. This group will take on Iceland's otherworldly, challenging landscape. These two-and-a-half days of challenging and spectacular hiking includes an assortment of geological marvels, including volcanoes, glaciers, geysers, hot springs, gorges, lava beds, waterfalls and, of course, mountains. Geothermal activity in the form of steam and green and yellow sulfur coming from the rocks we pass, coupled with the topography, make this mountainous hike otherworldly. After 7-8 hours of rigorous hiking, the team will sleep in mountain huts situated in an incredible setting. This hike is sometimes called "Fire and Ice" because on any given day you hike up lava fields and volcanoes, and then alongside stunning glaciers.

Iceland Trek

Trek Supporters

Videos

Iceland Meet the Team

Photos

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

Greenland Arctic Circle

Mt. Washington

Colorado

Mt. Kilimanjaro

Alaska Trek

Grand Canyon

Patagonia

Everest Base Camp/Kalapathhar Trek

Mount Everest Base Camp Climb

Havasu Falls/Grand Canyon Trek

Fire and Ice Iceland Trek

Mount Fuji

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Machu Picchu

 Lydonville, NY

Multiple myeloma is sneaky. Working on a part-time housing renovation in 2016 masked the symptoms of my back pain as a “pulled muscle” until finally I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. By that time the disease was located in approximately 80% of my bone marrow. I also had 10 compression fractures in the vertebrae of my spine. Fortunately, my wife and I live near the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY and immediately began treatment there that literally saved my life. After two kyphoplasty surgeries on my spine at Roswell and chemo leading up to an autologous stem cell transplant in August of that year, my markers of the disease were vastly improved. I am now in remission and feeling well, able to be actively engaged in a variety of hobbies and even more “fix up” projects.

I am very thankful. I like to think that rather than fearing cancer it is now the case that cancer is afraid of me. The disease has been a blessing in disguise in many ways, teaching me to appreciate my life and each day as it comes.

An evening of reading on a cold night in February gave me an opportunity to learn about the MM4MM Fire and Ice Trek in Iceland from the back cover of 

 magazine. I walked into the next room where my wife was knitting and announced that the Iceland Trek was something I felt compelled to do. She looked at me as if my “chemo brain” was acting up again. Now she and I will together be sharing Iceland as she plans to stay in Reykjavik during the trek.

Being accepted as part of the Iceland Team provides an exciting project to look forward to and work towards. The fundraising has been a great way to invite friends and family to be part of the adventure. People have been very generous. Meeting the other members of the team and enjoying their company while in the beauty of creation in Iceland will be exciting. I am happy to support the research that is so helpful for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

John Klatt

I have had the privilege of summiting Mount Kilimanjaro twice at sunrise, climbing to the bottom of the Grand Canyon three times and trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Now, I will embark on my eighth adventure as I trek for the second time to Iceland with the Moving Mountains for Multiple Myeloma team. I am honored to have taken on these challenges alongside many patients with multiple myeloma. My life will be forever changed by the strength and determination of those patients. We do this to raise money through the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation to help accelerate research in an effort 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 

Marty Murphy

 Thalwil, Switzerland

I am honored to join this trek with those whose lives, like so many, have been touched by multiple myeloma and other cancers. This past October, we lost my stepmother to a short but vicious battle with t-cell lymphoma. Participating in this trek, which is made possible by my employer, GSK, is an honor to her life and the metaphorical “mountains” she climbed during her illness. But cancer hasn’t just touched my immediate family – friends, in-laws, acquaintances, and co-workers all have their stories. I know mine is one of many, which speaks to the toll cancer takes on many.

I am proud to work for GSK, a sponsor of this trek. In my role, I work with a number of patient advocacy groups and have truly value those important relationships. GSK is a company where patients are a cornerstone of our values. We are committed to maximizing patient survival through transformational medicines and helping those affected by cancer.

As our Fire and Ice team makes our way across such a beautiful country, I look forward to hearing and learning more about those touched by multiple myeloma and achieving our goal together!

Shannon Altimari

My mother, Dianne, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2013, just three months after her 50th birthday. It was found incidentally and by chance when she was having blood work done to obtain long-term care insurance. Her cardiology lab work showed an M-protein spike, spurring on more tests that resulted in a diagnosis of multiple myeloma. While she is in the smoldering stage now and at 25% cancerous bone marrow, her doctor has determined that through quarterly lab work, they will monitor her percentage of cancer cells in her bone marrow, and track bone lesions and kidney involvement. However, since her diagnosis, her protein levels have continuously risen, while her hemoglobin levels continually drop, indicating progression of the disease.

Over the past six years, I have heard the fear in my mother's voice every three months when preparing to go in for blood work and labs. She describes each visit as "a waiting game," when inevitably she knows there is a huge chance that one day she'll go in and learn that her cancer has gone active and it will be time to begin treatment. I want there to be a cure so badly, and I believe the MMRF can do that. I believe a cure is in the near future. Treks like this can help bring awareness to multiple myeloma and raise money toward the cure that my mother and so many others so desperately hope for.

Between my mother's multiple myeloma and her heart failure (which resulted in the surgical implantation of a pacemaker/defibrillator in the same year of her multiple myeloma diagnosis), I have seen my mother’s ability to be physically active decline greatly. Since her diagnosis, she has vowed to always do whatever she feels she can physically do to experience life to the fullest, but she tires very easily—from something as simple as showering and drying her hair. I know that my mom would love to do a trek like this to raise awareness of the disease, but physically a trek like this would be nearly impossible. I am trekking in honor of my mom and to raise awareness of the cancer that affects her and thousands of other patients.

Meredith Powell

My name is Caitlin Coover and I lost my father, Louis James DelZoppo, to multiple myeloma over three years ago. Before my father was diagnosed, I had never heard of multiple myeloma. My father fought hard for years and I admired the courage he brought everyday even when he could barely walk. When my father passed away, I promised I would help find a cure! I found out about the Iceland trek through the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation website. It feels great to be fundraising for something so close to my heart and I am so excited to bond with others who have gone through similar situations!

Caitlin Coover

I am a 44-year-old realtor and real estate brokerage owner in Littleton, CO, just west of Denver. About 10 years ago, my best friend from college revealed he had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, and I started doing research on the disease. I wasn’t too encouraged by what I found, and I’ve been honored to walk alongside Erik Ellefsen these past 10 years as he has continued to beat the odds surviving for a decade.

When Erik told me about the trek to Iceland to raise funds for the MMRF, my wife and I didn’t have to think twice to donate to his cause. A few weeks later, when he asked me to join him on the trek, it took a bit more thinking! I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to spend this time with my friend of the last nearly 25 years, very proud to have the chance to raise funds for the MMRF, and more than a bit nervous to leave my wife and two daughters behind to embark on this trek.

Having been a life-long trail runner, I am eager to explore the trails and terrain of Iceland. Mostly, I am thankful I get to spend this time with Erik and have a tangible role in raising funds and support for a cause that has become such an integral part of his life. There are not many opportunities in one’s lifetime to cement a friendship like this, and I am humbled that I was chosen to get that opportunity.

Matt Thomson

My journey these last seven years as a smoldering myeloma patient and then two-and-a-half as an active patient going through treatment, a transplant, relapse, more treatment and finally partial remission have been tough. I'm finally healthy enough to be more active and am excited to have something to look forward to. What better way to celebrate remission then helping find a cure for this disease? I have always been active in athletic events and this would give me something to work towards while helping so many battling myeloma.

I have taken on hiking as my choice of exercise through my battle with myeloma. I have competed in triathlons, Spartan races, half marathons and was a Division 1 college volleyball athlete. Throughout my myeloma treatments, I have continued to be active through hiking and cycling and light weights. My doctor at UCSF is excited for me to take part in this adventure to show other patients that they too can remain strong and take on new challenges.

Laurie Culligan

 Westport, CT

I work for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), managing the events team for the past nine years and I am thrilled to share this opportunity and challenge with patients and partners. The Moving Mountains for Multiple Myeloma program has grown from an idea to an incredible fundraising tool raising over $2 million since its inception. But the program is so much more than a fundraising tool – it’s an opportunity for us all to come together to take on this challenge and support one another – so together we can find a cure for each and every patient. Through our collected power, we can make a cure a reality.

Since working at the MMRF, I have had the privilege to get to know many patients and their family members. I am continually inspired by their strength, perspective and perseverance. I am not a hiker or marathon runner or an even athletic – but I am excited to become a hiker by Aug. 7! Nothing is more motivating to me then to walk with this group to achieve our common goal.

I am proud to participate in MM4MM - our patients need a cure and I am thrilled to be a part of this! As we hike together, you will learn that I love to laugh, have a 6-year-old son named Charles, a wonderful husband named Scott, and a sister Susan who became a half marathon runner thanks to the MMRF Marathon program. I look forward to learning all about each one of my fellow hikers as we take on this challenge and raise money for a cure!

Laura Gilman

When my brother, John, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma three years ago, I really didn't realize what it was about but soon discovered that this cancer currently does not have any cure. I struggled as John underwent aggressive chemo treatments and also saw how this disease impacted his health. I was amazed at his strength and perseverance as he fought this battle.

When John shared his excitement about an opportunity to help raise funds and awareness for multiple myeloma by going on a three-day trek through Iceland, I also became excited when he mentioned this is for family and caregivers of which I am both.

I am honored to be a part of this group to help raise funds and to help research to bring an end to multiple myeloma. I'm looking forward to making new friends and being a part of us all, but especially my brother achieving this huge challenge together.

Mary Schlabach

Saturday mornings when I was growing up always started off the same. I would stagger downstairs still half asleep in my PJs, and my mom and dad would be sitting in the family room reading the newspapers. The place would smell like coffee and on really good days, donuts.

I would come in rubbing my eyes and scouting out which breakfast item I could grab before my sister woke up. My mom would turn to me and say, “Are you ready to go on a big adventure?” To which I would reply, “What’s the plan mom?” That’s how we started our weekends.

Now you must understand that our “big adventures” were not always that big. Maybe a trip to a new store, trying some new food or a visit with a friend, but we always called them “big adventures” and, automatically, they became more fun. It was like a secret code word for an activity with mom.

My mom passed away from multiple myeloma in 2010. In memory of my mom and for the many people still fighting, the MMRF has taken me on a number of adventures. Together with my family and friends, we have raised more than $100,000 through many marathons and team races. Each adventure has been an amazing experience. I know Iceland will be no different.

Megan Newhouse

 San Carlos, CA

I dedicate most of my waking hours to fighting this disease, but from the privileged perspective of a health care provider. I am amazed each day by the strength and perseverance I see in our patients and by the faith they have in people like me. This trust deepens my dedication, but it has also opened my heart to my patients and their caregivers. More than ever before, I see myself on this journey with my patients, learning with them, fighting with them and sometimes crying with them.

A few years ago, I heard about Moving Mountains for Multiple Myeloma from my good friend and colleague Saad Usmani. It seemed like something I would never have the strength or will to do. Then, while on a visit to the MMRF headquarters, I learned of an opportunity to join this team in Iceland. Serendipitously, Saad happened to be sitting right next to me and encouraged me to do it. A few weeks later I saw pictures of him running the Boston Marathon alongside his patient and I finally understood what he meant.

There is something about the how providers, patients and caregivers relate to each other. At first, it’s an obligatory relationship. But eventually, it becomes a partnership. Over the past few years, I have begun to understand this evolution and, more importantly, live this blessing. Though my life is in many ways so different from that of my patients, in many more ways, we are all the same. This trek is a way for me to attempt something with patients and caregivers - something that is a challenge and a mystery for all of us. I hope by pushing myself to accomplish something I’ve never done before, alongside survivors and their loved ones, I will gain a new sense of what true partnership is in fighting this disease. I hope to take this sore body with a stronger heart back to my patients in San Francisco, remembering that a grueling trek of a few days is only a microscopic challenge in comparison to what they go through in the endless fight against multiple myeloma.

Nina Shah

 San Jose, CA / Nové Zámky, Slovakia

Ten years ago my brother-in-law Erik was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. I still remember the day very clearly that my sister called. I was at orientation for my new job and preparing to move to Slovakia for full time youth ministry. At first, the doctors didn’t know what was wrong and so they didn’t know how to treat him or how long he would live. So, I left orientation, got on a plane and ended up living with my sister and Erik for the next two years.

Our family first met Erik when he moved to California to teach at Valley Christian High School. In fact, he was my high school history teacher. Shortly after he moved to
California, he and my sister started dating so I would have him as a teacher in school in the day and then many times after school he would be at our house hanging out. It was fun having Erik around because I had always wanted a brother.

As difficult as treatments were, Erik and I always made the best of the many trips for tests and doctor visits. There were many late nights of playing Tiger Woods PGA Golf on Xbox, watching American Pickers, and lots of awesome trips to any "Diner, Drive in and Dives" restaurant we could find. Through all this, one thing that always impressed me was Erik’s positivity.

There has been much uncertainty these last 10 years but the doctors and nurses have done an amazing job at working with Erik to find treatments to help prolong his life. Erik continues to be an inspiration to many as he continues to live life to the full all while constantly going through treatments. This opportunity is not only a way to raise
awareness and funds for the MMRF but it is also the opportunity to celebrate the 10-plus years the MMRF doctors and researchers have helped prolong his life. I have seen firsthand how brutal this disease can be but have also seen how someone with determination along with dedicated doctors and nurses can achieve.

Michelle Akavuti

Global Franchise Scientific Director in January 2019, and is now the Interim Global Medical Affairs Leader for Belantamab Mafodotin. 

Scott began his career in the pharmaceutical industry in 1996. Scott joined Celgene in 2003 medically supporting future launches in multiple myeloma and other hematologic malignancies. After ten years as a Medical Science Liaison, he joined the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy (MIRT) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, serving under the mentorship of Drs. Bart Barlogie and Gareth Morgan.

Most recently, Scott was a Senior Director with Pfizer Oncology supporting hematologic malignancies. He served numerous roles within the Pfizer Oncology organization serving as a Field Medical Director and worked extensively with two antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), he also served on the Organized Customer team, and was the Medical Review Committee Chair for hematology.

In his free time, Scott enjoys spending time with his family, especially on the water. He currently lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with his wife who is a Nurse Navigator working in malignant hematology at an NCI designated cancer center in Philadelphia.

Scott Miller

 San Jose, CA

I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2008, which was followed by two rounds of VDT-PACE and two autologous stem cell transplants in 2009. In 2019, I started my fifth maintenance treatment plan as my battle against myeloma has been an ever-present part of my life.

I am anxiously excited to make this trip as it is an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the past decade and how the battle against myeloma has radically altered my life. Likewise, a trek through Iceland is a reminder to me of the dual world of both beauty and desolation that remind me of what this battle against myeloma has been.

This trek through Iceland is both an honor as I get to make the journey with caregivers, doctors, and researchers as well as to raise money for the sort of treatments that have prolonged my life as we hope for a cure.

Erik Ellefsen

 Durham, CT

Our lives changed forever on Nov. 28, 2012, when my husband, Scott, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma at the age of 37. He underwent surgery to fuse his C1-C4, months of induction chemo (RVD), and an autologous stem cell transplant.

At present, Scott is currently in a complete remission with no evidence of disease. His team at Yale and at Dana Farber are incredible - smart, dedicated, up to date with the latest research and drugs in the pipeline so that we know what we need to do to keep this beast at bay. Our girls, who were ages 6 and 9 at the time, are now 13 and 16 and know a lot more about cancer, treatments, and myeloma than they did back then, and probably more than kids their age should.

Scott follows the work of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation closely; we’ve got a vested interest in which drugs are up for FDA approval and which are in various trials stages, and the MMRF has been instrumental in new treatment advances. To pay it forward, Scott and our older daughter participated in one of the 5K walk-a-thons in Boston, and he learned there about the MM4MM endurance events. I had just started hiking as a part of my mental health self-care work (being a mom, a teacher, and ‘myeloma wife’ as I call it can take a lot out of you). Scott shared the info he got about the hikes with me, and I was hooked. I’d hiked Mt. Washington and the Presidential Traverse in New Hampshire the previous summer, so Iceland grabbed my interest and I applied. I’m really excited about our team and am looking forward to meeting other people who understand the ups and downs of life with multiple myeloma.

I hike for a cure. I hike for my husband, who has been given a second chance at life through treatments, resources, and medical advances. I hike for my girls, so that they don’t have to have the same conversation with their own children some day. I hike to thank all those who have worked so hard to make this diagnosis a little more bearable. I hike for my mental health, for clarity, and for purpose. I hike to eliminate this horrible disease.

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