Dear Friends and Family,

I will be participating in the Multiple Myeloma Fundraising March once again this year. It is being held at Maffeo Sutton Park in Nanaimo, Sunday September 7th. Registration begins at 9 am and the walk starts at 10am.  I am asking you to help by supporting my fundraising efforts with a donation, and for those who live close enough, joining me on the walk. Your tax-deductible donation will help accelerate access to better care for Canadians affected by myeloma.  On average 11 Canadians are diagnosed with myeloma each day.

Our goal this year for the Vancouver Island March is to raise $30,000 and the overall goal for the country is $950,000.

Each year, Myeloma Canada’s Multiple Myeloma March enables us to raise funds for critical research that’s helping us move one step closer to a cure. All the money raised by the marches either goes directly into research or advocacy which is incredibly important to conquer this disease. Here are some examples;

- there is tremendous and positive momentum in myeloma research, and the future is promising.

- In 2024/2025 more new drugs have been approved by Health Canada for myeloma patient most recently belantamab mafodotin.

- Car-T therapy is also finally available in Canada for certain patients. It’s an incredible process whereby one’s T cells are harvested and modified genetically to search out and kill the myeloma cancer cells. Clinical trials are underway in Canada for myeloma patients.

- Labs in Canada, including here in Victoria, are now able to manufacture these modified T-Cells saving precious time and millions of dollars. There has been great success with Car-T in treating other blood cancers, with cures in leukemia and lymphoma, and we are hoping for similar results with myeloma. This is great news for those of us with myeloma, as each time we relapse we need a different drug or therapy – the more drugs and treatments available to choose from, the more likely it is to achieve longer and better remissions and one day a cure. All this is thanks to the research that is ongoing and supported by various parties, including Myeloma Canada.

I was first diagnosed with myeloma in October of 2018.  After months of chemotherapy, I had a stem cell transplant in May of 2019.  This was followed by 2 years of maintenance therapy.  I then had 2 and ½ years of no treatment.  However, in late 2023 I experienced a relapse and started my current chemotherapy regime in January 2024.  I have had a great response and am currently in remission due to this line of therapy.

I have also continued to be involved in the Myeloma Canada community, by serving as the support group leader here in Victoria, and being involved in committee work with Myeloma Canada.

With research and new treatments I am looking forward to the day when life is uninterrupted by myeloma.

Thank you so much for all your support and donations I really appreciate it.

Maureen