Prince George, B.C. – The first Prince George Multiple Myeloma March is being held at the Otway Nordic Centre today to raise funds and awareness about the disease.  It will be led by survivor Anthony Everett.

Multiple myeloma is an incurable form of cancer that affects cancer cells in the bone marrow.  Everett, who chaired the Prince George 2015 Canada Winter Games Host Society, was diagnosed with the disease in 2014.  He had figured back pain over the previous two years was the result of an active lifestyle but that was not the case.  It was the result of the disintegration of his vertebrae.

Everett says “I was gobsmacked when I was diagnosed.  I had never heard of multiple myeloma.  I got involved with the Multiple Myeloma March because I wanted to raise awareness about this disease.”

Today, following a stem cell transplant and aggressive chemotherapy, he is in remission and is leading that charge to raise awareness within the community.

This morning’s 5 km walk/run fundraiser kicks off at the Otway ski trails at 9:30 am.  Organizers have set a fundraising goal of $20,000 for this first edition of the event here.

The Multiple Myeloma March got its start in Montreal in 2009.  Since last year Myeloma Canada has dedicated funds raised through the march to the Myeloma Canada Research Network, a group of world-class researchers in 24 centres across nine provinces.