Coffee with All4Cure: Sarah (4/4)

A big part of how I have decided to live my life with my myeloma diagnosis is to be proactive rather than reactive in thinking about this disease. I wasn't just going to wait for it to come get me. I was going to do everything that I could do to delay that or change that future. I'm not a scientist or a researcher who can find a cure, but I can do everything in my power to help the people who are able to achieve that goal. My parents started a nonprofit to raise money for myeloma research after I was diagnosed. In the eight years it operated, they raised over $3 million for myeloma research and started many wonderful fundraising events that continue today. One of those events is the Defeat Myeloma Run/Walk. Usually, it is a live event in person in Seattle at the end of June, but because of Covid-19 the event was held virtually in 2020 and will be again this year. This year’s virtual run/walk is June 27, 2021, and 100% of all funds raised will directly support myeloma research at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Fred Hutch has been working on cutting-edge research with T-cell therapy and radioimmunotherapy. Changing the facts about myeloma is really important to me. I know the mortality rates and the standards for quality of life, and I don’t like them. If I can do anything to make those different from what they are now, I want to do it. Being a part of this event and fundraising to advance research is one way I have been able to do that. Registration for Defeat Myeloma is at www.defeatmyeloma.org and since it's a virtual event, I invite everyone around the country to join me.