Magog to host multiple myeloma march in early September
On Saturday, September 7, Magog will host its first ever edition of the Multiple Myeloma March, a nation-wide fundraiser aimed at raising awareness about and funds to combat the world’s second most common form of blood cancer. Scheduled to start at 8 a.m. at the Marais de la Rivière aux Cerises, this inaugural local walk is looking to attract as many participants as possible with the goal of raising at least $15,000.
Multiple myeloma, also known as myeloma, is an incurable blood cancer that affects the plasma cells which are found in bone marrow. According to Myeloma Canada, eight Canadians are diagnosed every day, yet in spite of its growing prevalence, the disease remains relatively unknown.
Venus Bélanger, the organizer and spokesperson for the Magog walk, said that one of the factors in the lack of awareness around the disease is the way
that people living with the condition may try to fly under the radar.
“Usually I don’t talk about the disease. I try to make people think I’m healthy,” she said, explaining that after being diagnosed with myeloma at the age of 32 in 2003, she did her best to continue to live a normal, active life despite chronic symptoms like bone lesions and daily pain.
“I want to be the person who helps, rather than the person who needs help,” Bélanger added. “My life changed from one day to another.”
Myeloma, according to Bélanger, is a complicated condition because of the fact that it affects each individual differently.
“Everyone has a different type of the same disease,” she said, using that as a point to underline the importance of research because of the fact that it means that every person with myeloma will need to be treated in different ways. Typically understood to be a disease that comes later in life, Bélanger said that myeloma is also starting to be diagnosed in younger age groups, showing how much remains unknown.
“Now we have to talk about it,” she said, sharing that it took two years for her to be diagnosed with the disease because she was considered too young. "The goal of this march is to not only raise awareness for myeloma, but to also encourage people to donate to help fund future research. This is essential, because it will allow patients like me to have access to treatments which can help improve our quality of life and increase our life expectancy.”
The Multiple Myeloma March is the flagship fundraiser of Myeloma Canada, a charitable organization, whose mission is to improve the lives of those impacted by myeloma and to support research toward finding a cure. While it is just getting started in Magog, the march is in its 11th year, across the country and the national fundraising goal has been set at $550,000.
“Myeloma patients have seen their treatment options increase exponentially over the past decade. Thanks to major strides in research, not only has quality of life improved but we’re encouraged to say that life expectancies have more than doubled in the past 15 years and this is continuing on an upward trend,” said Dr. Michel Pavic, Head of the Hematology-oncology Department at the CIUSSS de l’estrie – CHUS. “We’re now seeing incredibly promising treatment options that are helping us to stay ahead of the disease, such as such as CAR T-cell therapy, Bi-specific T-cell engagers (BITES), immunotherapies, and many more advances that are in development. For the first time, we can actually say that we’re getting closer to finding a cure. Investing in research is critical, which is why raising funds is more important than ever.”
Magog is one of a record 28 communities across Canada participating in this year’s Multiple Myeloma March.
“The annual Multiple Myeloma March is not just a fun, but essential, community-building and fundraising event. Through the march, those whose lives have been touched by myeloma get to meet and connect with one another while raising funds for advancing critical clinical research. Each step taken is one that brings us closer to finding a cure,” said Martine Elias, Executive Director of Myeloma Canada.
More information on the myeloma march is available at myelomamarch.ca.