Kayaker Determined to Help his Mother and Uncle Battle Multiple Myeloma Completes 600-Mile Washington to Alaska Trip

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Sept. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) – the largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of myeloma patients while working toward prevention and a cure – is excited to announce John Taussig has completed his 600-mile journey to raise money and public awareness for prevention and treatment of multiple myeloma.

Paddling a self-made kayak from Bellingham, Washington and through British Columbia's Inside Passage, John Taussig reached land's end in Ketchikan late evening on Wednesday, Sept. 14.  His Paddle to Battle Multiple Myeloma journey, which weaved through a maze of islands starting at the Puget Sound in Washington State and extending along the British Columbia Coast to the Alaska Panhandle, so far has raised more than $20,000 for the IMF.

Since Aug. 9 John had endured rough seas, high winds, and even a pod or two of Orca whales, making the waters less smooth, but his journey also included dozens of new friendships with Canadian and Alaskan natives, incredible scenery, and best of all, a great satisfaction that he has done something special for his mother and his uncle.

Taussig, founder of the nonprofit Backcountry Medical Guides, learned that his mother Anne and his uncle Tom were recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Not one to take this sitting down, Taussig took up his paddle to raise money to help Anne, Tom and the more than 30,000 Americans diagnosed each year with this blood cancer that is formed by malignant plasma cells.

To support John's extraordinary efforts, visit http://give.myeloma.org/site/TR?fr_id=1150&pg=entry#.V6kD_-srKUl. Every dollar raised will also be matched by a generous donor.

More information on his trip can be found on John's blog or follow along his journey with this interactive map.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA FOUNDATION 
Celebrating its 25^th anniversary, the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is the oldest and largest foundation focusing specifically on multiple myeloma. The Foundation's reach extends to more than 400,000 members in 140 countries worldwide. The IMF is dedicated to improving the quality of life of myeloma patients while working toward prevention and a cure by focusing on four key areas: research, education, support, and advocacy. The IMF has conducted more than 250 educational seminars worldwide, maintains a world-renowned InfoLine, and in 2001, established the International Myeloma Working Group^® (IMWG^®), a collaborative research initiative focused on improving myeloma treatment options for patients. In 2012, the IMF launched the Black Swan Research Initiative^®, a groundbreaking research project aimed at curing myeloma. The IMF can be reached at (800) 452-CURE (2873). The global website is www.myeloma.org. Follow the IMF on Twitter @IMFmyeloma.

CONTACT:
Dan Boyle [email protected] (818) 209-1692
Sapna Kumar [email protected] (818) 487-7455

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150227/178517LOGO

SOURCE International Myeloma Foundation

Related Links

http://www.myeloma.org