If there is something that you should know about me, it is that I come from a family that “rallies”. Some could call us our own awkward wolf pack; there is hunting together, playing together, and we live within howling distance to each other. The benefit - as Rudyard Kipling puts it “For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack”. Everyone or every wolf has a function or a role to play, without it we are not as strong. For me – I am and will always be the sustenance, the one who makes the tray of ziti, keeps the kids occupied and brings the common sense to the table.

I was introduced to Multiple Myeloma 10 years ago when my loving mother in law was diagnosed. As I have said the knee jerk reaction is to rally around watch other. So that’s what Scott and I did. We did our best to be there for Janice, being the visits to doctors appointments or treatments, or just keeping company and support during her journey. We were lucky enough to share family adventures lots of laughs and the making of memories through the turbulent times. Unfortunately, on Saturday March 26,2022 Janice was called Home; ending a turbulent journey, in which her lifespan was no doubtlessly increased by the work done by the MMRF.

Yet, in 2018 when my brother Artie was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma at the age of 39 – our pack was being attacked, it felt even more personal. Although the words Multiple Myeloma were not new to me, the tremendous number of unknowns haunted the brain. The fact that there is no cure (yet), the fact that every patient responds to treatment differently, the fact that his young children must see this awful journey. The incredible outpouring of generosity from family and friends was shocking and unmatched. Our pack was getting bigger. His focus was to get better, the rest of us rallied.

No one should have to fight this battle or any cancer battle for that matter. We are lucky enough to be a part of a pack, but It felt like and still feels like there is so much more to do. As I looked to educate myself that year, I found the MMRF. A community doing so much more than wishing each other well, and I wanted to be a part of it. The researchers, the doctors and scientists are doing their part – so I will rally around them to support and commend their efforts. I did my first 5K for MMRF that year and subsequently each year after that. Raising awareness and funds for research feels like the right thing to do when there are so many people facing these unknowns. This year we will take a bigger leap and join the Moving Mountains program. It actually only makes sense to do it with part of the wolfpack – joining my brother, his wife and my sister. Yet, it’s so much bigger than a hike. The money raised for cancer research will save lives. It has saved lives. But there are still a lot of mountains to climb and research to do, and I for one want to be a part of it. To help everyone’s pack.