The fight against an often-deadly form of blood cancer is the focus of a fundraising walk this weekend.
The 11th annual Windsor-Essex County Multiple Myeloma March will take place virtually on Sunday morning. Due to guidelines put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19, participants are asked to hold walks in their neighbourhoods at that time.
The run is one of 32 being held across Canada.
Great strides have been made in recent years against multiple myeloma, for which there is no cure. Dr. Sindu Kanjeekal, Head of Oncology at Windsor Regional Hospital, said there have been many benchmarks reached, but the fight is far from over.
"While it’s encouraging to be able to tell patients that there has been an increase in life expectancy in recent years, it’s still not nearly long enough for those living with myeloma and their families," said Kanjeekal. "I strongly believe the new drugs coming down the pipeline will give myeloma patients even more time and a better quality of life. That’s why investing in research today is so vital."
According to Myeloma Canada, myeloma attacks plasma cells found in the bone marrow. Nine Canadians per day are diagnosed with it on average.
The goal for Sunday's Windsor-Essex march is $30,000. Nationally, the total amount fundraisers are hoping for is $600.000.
Complete information on how to register for Sunday's virtual walk can be found on Myeloma Canada's official website.
