Being part of Moving Mountains for Multiple Myeloma has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Although summiting Mount Kilimanjaro twice at sunrise, climbing to the bottom of the Grand Canyon two times and trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu will take your breath away as you marvel at their unimaginable beauty, they pale in comparison to the inspirational patients with multiple myeloma that I have been so honored to do these adventures with.

Across the country, patients from all walks of life come together for one common mission — to eradicate multiple myeloma by raising much needed money for research done through the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF). They don’t climb to check off items on their bucket lists or for personal pride. They do it for all of the people who have lost their battle to this disease and for those that are still in the fight of their lives.

I am forever astonished by their unrelenting determination and pure intestinal fortitude. I have witnessed patients push their bodies and minds past what most of us consider our breaking point and they do this so “that others may live.”

I have been an explorer all of my life and have been moved by the sheer beauty of mountains, but these patients are truly MOVING MOUNTAINS for multiple myeloma. So far, we have raised north of $1 million for the MMRF and its critical research, and we intend to keep on climbing.

These patients, whom I am honored to call my brothers and sisters, are “awe-inspiring.