Fifth annual march for Myeloma

NEWS RELEASE MYELOMA CANADA ************************* To mark the organization’s 10-year anniversary, Myeloma Canada will host its 5th Annual Multiple Myeloma March on September 20, 2015.

NEWS RELEASE

MYELOMA CANADA

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To mark the organization’s 10-year anniversary, Myeloma Canada will host its 5th Annual Multiple Myeloma March on September 20, 2015.

Funds raised for this incurable and little-known form of blood cancer will be dedicated to advance myeloma research

through innovative clinical trials across the country and to provide educational services to patients.

“We are extremely grateful to the participants of the Multiple Myeloma March who help raise awareness.

Thanks to their involvement, we are in a better position to bring meaningful outcomes to patients by raising more funds and facilitating research,” says Francine Gendron, CEO, Myeloma Canada.

Hundreds of patients, caregivers, family and friends will gather at the Mill Market (35 Canal Drive, Sault Ste. Marie) at 10 a.m. on Sunday, September 20th to support the myeloma community in its efforts to raise awareness and find a cure.

“My wife Gerlinde and I have been participating in the Multiple Myeloma March for the past five years,” says Manfred Haefele, a 10-year myeloma survivor. “The March is extremely important to me. It’s an opportunity to meet other patients and talk about new treatments and how they cope dayto- day with the illness.”

Gerlinde Haefele, a retired clinical research associate, agrees with her husband: “Events like this March are crucial to raising awareness and promoting research. While I was working on myeloma, the life expectancy was only five years. Now, thanks to research, it has significantly extended.”

Thanks to a dedicated and passionate group of volunteers, the Sault Ste. Marie Multiple Myeloma March has already reached half of its financial goal of $15,000. Individuals may register, donate or participate by visiting: www.myelomamarch.ca.

About Multiple Myeloma

Multiple Myeloma is a blood cancer of the plasma cells that ravages the bone marrow.

It affects approximately 7,500 Canadians and, every day, seven more Canadians are diagnosed.

Advances in treatments are helping to prolong life expectancy with median survival rates having increased from three to five years to over 10 years now.

Despite this increase in life expectancy, it remains incurable with 1,300 people dying from multiple myeloma annually.

About the Multiple Myeloma March

Since its first edition in 2009, the Multiple Myeloma March has raised over $1.5 million and has become a symbol of community and strength for patients, caregivers and health care providers in their battle to find a cure.

The 5 km walk, which takes place in 11 communities across Canada has a national financial objective is $350,000.

Communities hosting Marches include: Halifax, Halton-Peel Area, Melville, Montreal, Ottawa-Gatineau, Quebec City, Saskatoon, Sault Ste. Marie, St John’s, Windsor/Essex County and Winnipeg.

Visit www.myelomamarch.ca to find dates and locations of the Multiple Myeloma March events.

About Myeloma Canada

Myeloma Canada is a registered non-profit organization created by, and for, people living with multiple myeloma.

Since 2005, it is the only national organization exclusively devoted to the Canadian myeloma community.

Patient-driven and patient-focused, Myeloma Canada seeks to strengthen the voice of the Canadian myeloma community by working with leading myeloma researchers and clinicians, local support groups and other cancer organizations to improve the quality of life of myeloma patients, their caregivers and their families through education, awareness, advocacy and research.

The organization has recently founded the Myeloma Canada Research Network (MCRN), the first and only national academic research group bringing together Canada’s leading myeloma investigators from 16 centres across Canada.

Ontario patients may have access to clinical trials in the Ottawa, Toronto, London and Windsor MCRN affiliated centers.

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