An annual cycling fundraiser for an incurable form of blood cancer will be taking place in Richmond on May 28.
Multiple myeloma, also known as myeloma, is a rare and incurable form of blood cancer and eleven Canadians are diagnosed with it every day.
Riders will be meeting at Homma elementary at 8:30 a.m. on May 28 to raise funds for a cure while raising awareness about the condition.
One of the riders is Yolande Paine, a North Vancouver resident and myeloma patient currently in remission.
“I know that I will eventually relapse, but I am confident that there will be treatment options available to me when that time comes,” said Paine in a media release.
Paine, 69, was diagnosed with the precursor to active multiple myeloma known as smouldering multiple myeloma in 2012.
Paine had felt “off” for months before the diagnosis and had decided to consult a specialist despite her doctor’s reassurance that she was healthy, according to the media release.
“I’m very in tune with my body,” said Paine.
“And because of this, I pushed hard for an answer and advocated for myself. I am extremely lucky to have caught the disease early. I didn’t endure nearly as much pain and suffering as others.”
Paine was later diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2016 and decided to join the Vancouver Myeloma Support Group to help support others with the same cancer. After extensive chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, Paine experienced a relapse in 2019 but is now in remission.
Nowadays, Paine is enjoying time with her husband of 40 years through trail hiking, cross-cross country skiing and playing with their beloved Labradoodle Cooper. Her husband, Bill Paine, is a board member of Myeloma Canada.
“It’s very scary living with an incurable cancer,” she said.
“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t fearful of the future, but there are many amazing new treatments in the pipeline that give me a lot of hope.”
Open to riders of varying skill levels
The fundraising ride is open to riders of varying skill levels and participants will get to pick from two routes: a shorter 33.7 km route or a longer and more challenging 71.1 km route. A minimum fundraising target of $350 is encouraged for each rider.
Richmond is one of seven Canadian communities to participate in the nationwide event, which aims to raise $300,000 across the country. The inaugural Richmond Myeloma Canada Ride took place last year.
Martine Elias, executive director of Myeloma Canada, in the media release that the diagnosis of myeloma is often long and difficult for countless Canadians and can take as long as years.
“Events like the Richmond Myeloma Canada Ride are key for raising both, awareness for the disease and critical funds that enable us to keep investing in life-saving research so that a cure may be found,” said Elias.
“We need to do all that we can to stop this complicated disease from cutting short the lives of those we love.”
For more information or to sign up, visit the Myeloma Canada Ride webpage for Richmond.
