My trek in Alaska is an extremely personal endeavor. My father died of multiple myeloma (MM) over 50 years ago. There was no treatment for MM at that time, other than radiation. He lived only four years after his diagnosis. My father had a dream of taking my mother and I to Alaska, but he died before he could fulfill his dream. I chose this trek to Alaska in his memory.

And for my husband.

Two years ago, my husband, Ed, was diagnosed with smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM), the precursor to MM.At present there is no treatment for SMM. There is nothing that can be done to prevent the advancement to cancer. Ed has periodic blood tests, knowing one day the disease will accelerate to the cancer that my father had. As a retired nurse practitioner, used to being a caregiver, it is devastating for me that I can't do/find anything to help my husband.

Our story continues.

Eight months ago, I enrolled in the Dana Farber "Promise Study" for first-degree relatives of patients with MM, and six months ago I was diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), a possible precursor to SMM. Since MM can be hereditary, my diagnosis is no doubt related to my father.

Since my father's diagnosis, there are now more than 15 FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of MM, and there is a 40% improvement in the overall five-year survival rate. This has come about as a result of the over $500 million of research. While the MMRF has made enormous progress, there is still an urgent need for more research for the treatment of MM and hopefully to prevent the advancement of precursors to MM, such as SMM and MGUS.

This trek to climb the mountains of Alaska is out of my comfort zone, but I will do whatever it takes to contribute.

To donate, visit: https://give.themmrf.org/fundraiser/4398361