BY GARY PETERSEN

Myeloma Crowd has a Beach Walk on March 4th, 2017 to raise funds for two immunotherapy myeloma research projects which have great potential but do not fit into the normal model for new drug development.  I am not saying this is in any way an indictment of drug companies, because I and most people know that because of companies like Celgene and Takeda (Revlimid and Velcade),  the life expectancy of myeloma patients seeing a myeloma specialist has gone from 3 years to now close to 10 years. In addition, both of these companies have shown compassion and local support to the patients and IMF support groups.   Daratumamab could add another 3 to 5 years on top of that and we hope to see more leaps forward.

Based on the opinions of some of the TOP GUNS of myeloma specialists (Dr. Orlowski of MD Anderson, Dr. Landgren of Memorial Sloan Kettering, Dr. Ghobrial of Dana Farber, and Dr. Fonseca of Mayo Clinic to name a few)  these two immunotherapy projects could be the next quantum leap forward.  Patients, their families and caregivers have already given $425,000 towards the first target of $500,000 to fund this research.  I created a fundraising team called "Alive And Walking for YOU!" and you can join my team if you CLICK HERE (make sure you click "join a team" and pick my team)!

You can contribute to my fundraising page if you CLICK HERE!

This is my commitment to you, I have made my team goal of $15000, and if I make this goal I will jump out of an airplane without a parachute!  I hope the person I am skydiving with (tandem) has one though.  In addition, I will match the first $500 that is committed to the team.  In this way, I am backing my words with action.  This I know, if we do not find the next successful clinical trial our myeloma journey will end far too soon. Help me to help to save us all!  For those who want to get a fast track myeloma education you can also sign up for the 3 day Pat Killingworth's Myeloma Survival School.  There are few opportunities like this available. This was a program developed by Pat, a myeloma patient, IMF Support group leader, and author to help to meet the needs of  myeloma patients.

Good luck and may God Bless your Cancer Journey.   For more information on multiple myeloma survival rates and treatments CLICK HERE and you can follow me on twitter at: https://twitter.com/grpetersen1