It has been 17 years since my diagnosis, and 16 years since my autologous stem cell transplant. I plan to drive my minivan that I converted into a camper to many beautiful places this summer. And of course I want to hike lots of mountains too!

This is my story which I wrote a long time ago, and I think many people will like it:

I ride because when I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2008, my doctor said that there are medicines... EFFECTIVE medicines to treat me. And perhaps he was more correct than even he would have imagined!! Fundraising efforts like the PMC will allow more individuals to have success too. The future is very promising!

Of course effective medicines are only part of the story. I was very fortunate that wonderful, dedicated doctors and nurses from the Dana Farber and other hospitals took such good care of me during my treatments.(I'm smiling right now thinking fondly about them as I'm typing.) I can't thank them enough.

I haven't ridden a bike since last summer, when my 12 year old niece laughed and said, Uncle Mark, you have your helmet on backwards! So I better practice wearing my helmet before the Pan Mass Challenge. Fortunately, it's only April, and I'm only attempting the 50 mile ride from Wellesley to Wellesley.

I'm very excited that I'll be able to ride in the Pan Mass Challenge. It should be so much fun!
Finally, one of the tips I would like to pass on to patients is to remind them that if their chances of surviving are above 0%, then there's hope!!!!

I'm a proud supporter of the PMC because it is leading a charge to beat cancer. In fact, last year 100% of rider-raised revenue went directly to support the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's tireless commitment to finding a cure.

Donations to my virtual ride will support Dr. Anderson's Research. Here is a description of his wonderful work!

Our ongoing progress together is helping patients with myeloma, as well as patients with breast cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, ovarian cancer, and many other cancers. There two major areas where we are as a PPP TEAM making great strides. First is the area of precision medicine-defining the abnormalities in cancer cells and in their environment which allow tumor cells to grow and survive in order to develop selective targeted new medicines. Since abnormal circuits are common to many cancers, new selective targeted medicines will be more effective, have fewer side effects, and help patients with a broad range of cancers.

The second focus is on immune therapies-developing strategies to generate and sustain an immune response in patients against their own cancers. Since the immune system is potent, selective, and adaptable, immune therapies have great potential to overcome the escape mechanisms used by cancer cells to evade standard therapies. Imagine if you could trigger an immune response in patients that would remember and reject cancer when it tries to recur, just as the immune system deals with infections or other threats. Both the precision medicine and immune therapy strategies have the potential to transform even the most aggressive cancers to chronic illnesses and ultimately achieve cures!