I am thrilled to be a part of the next adventure hike fundraiser for the MMRF – Moving Mountains for Multiple Myeloma – Grand Canyon, beginning on May 12, 2016.

Moving Mountains for Multiple Myeloma (MM4MM) is a new and exciting program sponsored by Takeda Oncology and CURE magazine that provides an opportunity for MMRF supporters to take on incredible mountains and canyons while raising funds for multiple myeloma research. An outstanding 90 percent of all funds raised are budgeted for cancer research and related programs, and not one penny of the funds donated are used to pay for the travel or hiking costs.

In January 2016, we had a team of 15 take on Mount Kilimanjaro, which raised nearly $250,000 for the MMRF. In May, 12 MMRF supporters will take on the steep and treacherous Bright Angel Trail via the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. In August, a team of 20 will leave for Peru to scale the mighty Machu Picchu peaks.

While the Kilimanjaro team hiked for a grueling eight days, the Grand Canyon and Machu Picchu hikers will take part in a few shorter hikes leading up to one big, grueling day. The idea is to provide a challenging climb for our participants, but one that is achievable for those who might not be able to take on eight days of hiking or take off 11 days from work to do Kilimanjaro!

Don’t think this is easy! Hiking the Bright Angel Trail in the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is one of the most challenging hikes in the United States. With over 4,300 feet of vertical hiking down, and then up — completed in one day — this trek also adds the obstacle of temperature change. While it might be a comfortable 75 degrees at the top of the rim, MMRF hikers will likely encounter heat reaching 110℃ in the depths of the canyon.