The International Myeloma Foundation Says Don Wright's 100th Marathon With Myeloma Highlights Progress Being Made Against This Disease

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Nov. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) congratulates seventy-five-year-old Don Wright on approaching his 100th marathon since being diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2003. When Don first learned he had myeloma, the novel therapies to treat the disease were just coming into use, and Don was given only three to five years to live. Instead, 13 years later, Don's running helps raise awareness of the progress the IMF has supported, and the clinical trials run by leading myeloma experts in the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG).  

"The IMF is the pre-eminent advocacy group for myeloma patients," said Don Wright. "I don't know where we would be without their tenacious pursuit of treatments and their support and education of patients."

For seven years, Don's cancer was held in check by one therapy that Don began as part of a clinical trial. Recently, his cancer flared and Don needed to try three different regimens before he and his doctors settled on a combination that includes a brand new treatment just recently approved.

"Don shows us how far we've come treating multiple myeloma, and how much work remains to be done," said Susie Novis Durie, President and Co-Founder of the IMF. "Don shows us the need to move beyond long-term maintenance to the importance of our Black Swan Research Initiative® because we have to work toward a cure."

Don plans to run the Philadelphia Marathon, Sunday, November 20th. He will be joined in Philadelphia by other long-term survivors. The IMF says that each footstep along the 26.2-mile course is another step toward progress being made.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA FOUNDATION
Founded in 1990, the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is the oldest and largest nonprofit foundation focusing specifically on multiple myeloma. The Foundation's reach extends to more than 450,000 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

SOURCE International Myeloma Foundation

Related Links

http://www.myeloma.org