Running for Lan!

Shane Young is running for his mother-in-law, Alannah, who has been undergoing intensive treatment for multiple myeloma over the past 14 years. Shane and “Lan” extremely close (he says she is more like his mum), and Shane is continues to be amazed by the strength she has shown over the years. “When she was first diagnosed, little was known about this cancer. The hard work of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation has finally brought awareness to this disease on a global level and I am proud to support such an amazing organization,” says Shane. “Even more so, I am proud to run for Lan who not only inspires me every day but also bakes the best patty cakes in the world!”

Elizabeth and Sean Remember Ron

Elizabeth Ohaegbulam, her brother, Sean Quinn, and her husband all entered the lottery for the NYC marathon. None of them won bibs, but Sean signed up to run with the MMRF and challenged Elizabeth to join him. She accepted without hesitation. Elizabeth is thankful they did not win spots through the lottery; “We were meant to run for the MMRF,” she says. Their Uncle, Ronald Thayne, fought multiple myeloma for 4 years, and all the while he vigorously pursued every treatment option available. “Even after it was clear that his bone marrow/stem cell transplants had failed and his chemo options had been exhausted, he never gave up hope,” says Elizabeth. Ron was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, as well as “a great friend with a booming laugh.” He passed away on April 28, 2010, and on the anniversary of his death, Elizabeth and Sean called their aunt to tell her they were running and raising funds in his memory. “[It] was an incredible consolation to her,” says Elizabeth. “Becoming a member of the MMRF PowerTeam is our contribution to the science that we hope will one day help all of the other much-loved people like Ron.”

Katherine is an RNer!

Katherine Cosca has run a lot of races, but this one is special; this will be the first time she uses her running to benefit a good cause. As an RN, Katherine has seen how devastating diseases like multiple myeloma can be. “You would think that being a nurse, you’d feel that you were in control and that as long as you took good care of your patent he/she would get better. How I wish it were that easy,” she says. Though Katherine touches people’s lives through her work as a nurse, she wants to do all she can to help patients. “I feel that running a race for a cause makes more sense than just running for the fun of it,” she says. “It just feels great to use something you’re passionate about to make a difference in this world.”

Running to Save Eric's Life

Lisa Frick is a true endurance athlete; she has completed 8 Ironmans, 10 marathons, and countless other cycling, swimming and running events, and this, her 11^th marathon, is for her boyfriend Eric, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in April 2011. “I made the very easy decision to run my 11^th marathon in his honor and raise money for the research into the treatments that could save his life,” says Lisa. “I feel like I am doing something that I already do, but bringing it to another level to help him.” Lisa possesses the determination of an athlete, and she is ready to do whatever it takes to help Eric. “I am running to save Eric’s life,” she says. “I won’t stop until I do.”

Trish and Howard Remember Their Moms



The Miller Kids



Trish and Howard Miller are running the NYC Marathon to honor both their moms, Maureen and Mary Anne, who away from multiple myeloma. “During their respective battles with multiple myeloma, Maureen and Mary Anne showed tremendous courage, a pervading sense of optimism, and incredible dignity,” says Trish. “Our hope is to continue that legacy.” Their four young children remember their grandmothers, and they understand the significance of their parents’ run. “They think ‘Team Miller’ is ‘cool,’” says Trish. “We are a close family, both in our immediate and extended family.” With the love and support they have shown, Trish and Howard’s friends and family members are helping carry on the legacy left by Maureen and Mary Anne, two courageous women.

A Great Cause and Lots of Fun!

New Yorker Tim Fallon is a “single father/trader/triathlete” who works 12 hour days and yet still finds time to train for both the New York City Marathon and the NYC Triathlon! “I think I need a 26 hour day to train for this,” he jokes. “I have a spin bike in my apartment facing the TV which I use while my daughter sleeps.” Tim faces the challenges of training with enthusiasm and determination, as well as a good sense of humor! He’ll be starting the race in a tuxedo, which will “morph into a mystery costume” by the end of the race! He says he belongs in the “Clydesdale Division,” because “210 pounds over this distance deserves a division....or at least a pizza!” He runs for the MMRF because “it's a great cause which battles an evil affecting all of us in some way.”

An Unexpected Triumph

Katie Thompson has a very special bond with her mother-in-law. When Katie was two, she lost all her hair due to alopecia totalis, and her mother-in-law lost her hair when she went through chemotherapy for her multiple myeloma. “We shared bandanas and laughed about how awful wigs are,” Katie says. “She helped me embrace my bald head and accept who I am.” In this way, an unusual connection became “an unexpected triumph” for Katie and her mother-in-law. “She says losing her hair wasn’t so bad because she had me in her life,” Katie says. “In the end, it’s really she who helped me.” Thankfully, Katie’s mother-in-law has been in remission for five years, and Katie is excited to run for “the organization that helped make that happen!”

Closure for the Decade

For Carolyne Hynes, everything changed on September 11 when her husband was killed in the World Trade Center. 8 weeks pregnant at the time, she wpent the next decade building a new life for herself and her young daughter. “I initially wanted to run the NYC marathon in 2011, 10 years after 9/11, as a way of gaining some sense of closure on my own struggles and regain my life after my husband died,” she says. “The more I thought about it, the more I realized I wanted to run for a charity, raise money and spread awareness for a worthy cause while fulfilling my goal.” Her coach mentioned the MMRF, and after that, “the pieces fell into place.” With all of the turmoil of the last 10 years, Carolyne has found that running has helped her regain a sense of control in her life. “Running is empowering. It gives me the strength I need to navigate this world,” she says. Carolyne feels that running empowers her to be the best mother she can be, and when she crosses that finish line, she will prove that tragedy does not have to stand in the way of living and making a difference.

Remembering Mom

Bill and Elizabeth McBain will be running the ING New York City Marathon in memory of their mother Kathy, who passed in 2004 after a 6 and a half year long battle with multiple myeloma. They are both first time marathoners, but they are no strangers to the work the MMRF does! “[My mother] benefitted greatly from drugs that were developed through MMRF funded research,” says Bill. “My family and I will be forever grateful for their work.” Now Liz and Bill are contributing to that work, and though their mother’s death was tragic, it is her passion for life that they will remember with their run.

Two Journeys, Side By Side

Anne Mandeville-Long had just begun running again after a 20 year hiatus when her sister, Lisa, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Anne decided to use her running to help her sister, and she decided to join her brother in running the NYC Marathon with the MMRF PowerTeam. As she trained for the marathon, Anne found that they were able to encourage and support each other as they faced their respective trials. Anne ran her fist 10 miler, followed by a 15K, as Lisa prepared for a bone marrow transplant with months of chemotherapy. She sat at Lisa’s bedside during the transplant in Boston, and then she went out to run alongside the Boston Marathoners. Anne completed her first half marathon as Lisa began to recover from the transplant. “Though running a marathon pales in comparison to living with cancer,” Anne says, “Lisa continues to tell me that I inspire her, and that by living to my fullest, I am giving her the best gift ever.” Anne and her brother Peter Robbins are running this race for their loving sister, who continues to inspire them and help them “put one foot in front of the other.”

A "Small Contribution"

Charlie Purtell first learned about the MMRF when he met Kathy Giusti 10 years ago. He was working at a small biotech lab that was working on a drug that could be useful in treating multiple myeloma. Charlie was “deeply impressed” with Kathy’s impact on the biotech industry. Not only has her work led to improved care for life-threatening diseases, but her revolutionary business model serves as an example for other organizations. “I was so impressed, I thought about asking for a job,” he says. “Now I can make my own small contribution to her cause.”

Charlie has come a long way to get to the New York City Marathon. At the age of 11, he was diagnosed with a degenerative bone disease, and he was told he may never run or walk again. Nevertheless, after a year without walking followed by a year on crutches, Charlie’s joints began to heal. Despite many knee injuries in college and a 10 year break from running, Charlie is doing something doctors predicted he would never be able to do.