Walking for the health of it

Photo: Getty Images

Enderby is encouraging anyone impacted by multiple myeloma to come out and show their support.

The community north of Vernon on Highway 97A will be taking to the streets for the inaugural Multiple Myeloma March, Saturday, Sept. 24.

The march is part of Myeloma Canada’s national signature fundraising event and it starts 1 p.m. at the Lions Club Gazebo.

Kelowna hosted its march on Sunday, Sept. 11, raising $5,645. 

Headed by Ron Surry, his family and friends, the Enderby community aims to raise $10,000.

“Many myeloma patients, like me, have mobility problems. If I could manage these problems by walking five kilomteres, maybe others could, too,” said Surry, an 18-month myeloma survivor and the Enderby and Kelowna Multiple Myeloma March co-ordinator. “Advocating for better access to new drugs is my way of encouraging multiple myeloma patients to remain hopeful and optimistic. Increased treatment options would create more stepping stones for patients to walk on and extend our lives with a better quality of life.”

Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that develops in the plasma cells found in bone marrow. 

The beneficiary of this year’s march will be the Myeloma Canada Research Network (MCRN) — a patient-focused, collaborative research group working in nine provinces.

The Vancouver General Hospital, the British Columbia Cancer Agency in Surrey and the Kelowna Hospital in Kelowna, are three of the 21 centres participating in MCRN across Canada.

Participants can register, donate or get more information online.