Big Sis In Burgundy: Running The Chicago Marathon For Multiple Myeloma
I finished the Chicago Marathon yesterday. I ran it to raise awareness and money for multiple myeloma, and it was an amazing experience.
First, I must acknowledge my sister, Darrie, and niece, Kate, who are the best pit crew a girl could have. They were tremendous support, especially Kate, who fixed my iPod when it froze. For a moment, I thought I would have to spend 26.2 miles alone with my thoughts.
Throughout the race, I focused on friends and family who have been affected by cancer. I wrote a list up my arm and continued to recite it at the beginning of each mile. The many people I have learned about through this column were also on my mind.
Running 26.2 miles, which I completed in 5 hours 55 minutes, is only but a symbol of what the brave patients and their families and caregivers go through.
Every mile was dedicated to my sister Deana, who is scheduled for a bone marrow biopsy on Wednesday. Next Monday, I will accompany her to her oncologist appointment and hope that we get the news that her plasma cell level has reached the place where we can move to transplant.
Meeting my fellow Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) Power Team members who also participated in the marathon was inspiring beyond words. One member just finished his stem cell transplant last month. He planned to walk the race; Darrie saw him at about the midpoint, where he reported he was doing well.
There were many families there, some tears were shed, but we agreed we were all there out of love. Deana was among the younger patients represented, although one woman was running for her husband's 31 year old cousin, who has been so weakened, he cannot walk or pick up his young son. I am sure he felt her love yesterday.
Jeff Goad, who was diagnosed about 18 months ago right before his 50th birthday, made excellent remarks. He was an accomplished athlete prior to multiple myeloma and shared that he could never understand those who go out and run for charity, instead of taking on the marathon to make a good time. He has tremendous support from his family, including his brother who sounds like he could be my twin separated at birth. Dave has been so involved with raising money and awareness for multiple myeloma – I look forward to getting to know him better.
Team Hoagie was another really impressive group. When a member's mother was diagnosed, this group banded together with the pledge that the family would not fight this alone.
There are more stories than I can cover here, but I will try to incorporate some more in future articles.
I was also honored to learn that the MMRF has put an article about me In the Spotlight on their website.
As always, I thank all of you for the encouragement and support. It means a great deal to me and my family. I am grateful to have had you on the journey to my first marathon. And, I hope that the $125,000 raised by the Power Team for this race will bring us closer to a cure for multiple myeloma.
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Hello Deborah, and congratulations on finishing your first marathon! I have been following your Beacon Blog now for some time and want to let you know how personally grateful I am that you are out there raising awareness and money for this cancer. I was diagnosed (Smoldering)in 2010 as well and am a Mom, like your sister. For a number of reasons, I have opted to stay 'in the closet' with my diagnosis. But this prevents me from getting on my own warpath about this under-the-radar cancer. So Thank-You for doing your thing!
CONGRATULATIONS! What a great accomplishment for all of you on so many fronts.
Thank you for your post, and congrats. In the four years prior to my MM diagnosis in July, I walked 6 marathons, in Eugene, Portland and Prague. My fastest time was 5' 22". I was signed up to do the Crater Lake Marathon in August, but had to abandon it. However, I got assigned #1 for next year, so that is my goal, to finish it next year, at age 55. I too hope that a cure for MM can be found, which I predict will be immunologic (probably genetically engineered). Your efforts in fundraising are inspiring! Best wishes, Jan
Kudos to you and the others involved in raising money and awareness through the Chicago marathon. I was actually passing through Chicago on Sunday after visting my daughter who is going to college in the Quad Cities on the Illinois border with Iowa. I wish I'd remembered you were participating - I'd have liked to stop and meet you and your family. Coincidentally, my daughter and I decided over the weekend that we were going to enter a triathlon next summer, provided we can find one to participate in as a team (I swim, she runs, and we both bike). I was diagnosed this past January, but am doing well enough that we thought this would be a great father/daughter goal.
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