Age: 63
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Link: https://endurance.themmrf.org/2018Everest/stan

Being diagnosed and starting treatment for multiple myeloma in 2013 was not part of the plan for my future.

But, things happen. Thankfully I found the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), which led me to my doctor, Dr. Sundar Jagannath, at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC. With the support of my wife, Pam, I carried on, never missing work or taking much time away from family obligations.

Within 5 months of starting treatment I was in complete remission. My stem cells were harvested and stored in case I needed a transplant. That was 4 years ago. As of my last bone marrow biopsy, I now show minimal residual disease (MRD)! I will continue on a lower dose of maintenance therapy as I train.

In 2015 my friend, Jamie Slater, approached me about climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for charity. At first we thought we could go it alone, but that wasn’t going to work. I contacted the MMRF, and CURE magazine. Shortly thereafter, Moving Mountains for Multiple Myeloma was born.

Climbing Kilimanjaro was never on my radar. Going to Mount Everest has been a dream of mine for the last 25 years.

After spending eight tough days on Kilimanjaro, I told myself, that’s it for my mountain treks. I was done!

But, as luck would have it, I was invited to participate in the 2018 Trek to Everest Base Camp. I get to fulfill a dream, expand my “mountain family,” and hike with more patients to prove we can’t be stopped.

More importantly, we get to raise awareness and donations to help find the cure to this disease.