MMRF pounds pavement with marathon team

Written by Carrie Schmelkin, Reporter
Friday, 30 October 2009 05:35

Sporting visors, running shoes and bright orange shirts with blue writing, the 100 members of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) marathon team will hit the ground running at the 40th annual New York City marathon, a 26.2-mile trek set for this Sunday, November 1.

Already receiving almost $500,000 in donations for the event, the foundation is expected to raise more than $1 million this year through marathon fund-raisers alone, its largest total with marathon events in its history, according to Alicia O’Neill, director of the team.

“What this day represents for the runners is empowerment,” she said. “It’s about their own personal achievements but, also, about actively being involved in the cure and treatments that are going to extend lives on myeloma patients.”

The foundation, started by New Canaan resident Kathy Giusti, helps raise money to accelerate the development of multiple myeloma treatments to help extend the lives of patients and lead to a cure. Ninety-three percent of money raised goes directly to fund research.

Last year, the MMRF team raised $58,000 in the New York marathon and was granted 10 entries for the race. This year, after becoming a charity partner with the New York City marathon, the team received 100 entries.

“The New York marathon by itself is hugely attractive to do,” said long-time runner Mike Holland Sr. of New Canaan. “I’ve done it before, but the idea of doing it for a really good cause makes it all the more special.”

Holland, who has lost several close friends to the disease, said he decided to participate on the MMRF team for the first time this year because of his personal connection to the disease and his family’s involvement with the team.

His son Tom Holland, a former New Canaan resident who now lives in Darien, is the running coach for the team.

Tom said he is most pleased to see that the number of people wanting to participate has “exponentially exploded,” which is important since mulitple myeloma is becoming more prevalent.

“More and more people have it,” he said. “That’s the sad part, but the good part is that these people (the runners) want to be a part of it.”

Some residents have felt so connected to the cause that they have gone beyond the minimum fund-raising requirements of $4,000.

Resident Nick Tiller told the Advertiser he had raised about $33,000 as of last week, and will match his donors’ contributions dollar for dollar.

A first-time marathon runner, Tiller said he was interested in joining the team because he knows several people affected by the disease and because running a marathon has been a “long-term personal goal.”

“I thought it was a good opportunity to run a marathon that I always wanted to do and raise money for a cause I already believed in,” he said.

“I have definitely found that people are still willing and able to donate for a good cause that they believe in,” Tiller added, noting that he had to reach out to only six people to raise $33,000.

Before Tiller and the other runners take to the streets of Manhattan this weekend, the entire team and their families will gather for a team dinner Saturday to pump themselves up.

“It is my hope these people will know that they are making a difference with what they are doing,” said O’Neill. “This [multiple myeloma] is such a small, orphan cancer.”

For more information about the foundation, visit multiplemyeloma.org.