March Is Myeloma Action Month!!

International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) Launches Myeloma Action Month as of March 1

IMF’s Awareness Campaign Recognizes that Myeloma Has No Borders

The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is harnessing the power of myeloma patients, their families, and the myeloma community at large to raise awareness of the disease during Myeloma Action Month (MAM), starting March 1, 2019. In 2009, the IMF was the first organization to declare March as Myeloma Awareness Month. They elevated the campaign in 2016 to Myeloma Action Month to encourage a more dynamic, proactive approach.

This year, this proactive approach is highlighted by YOU—Myeloma Warriors. Dr. Brian G.M. Durie, the IMF’s Chairman of the Board, explains that a myeloma warrior is a patient, caregiver, friend, or healthcare provider who has a “broad view about myeloma—not just for yourself, but for others in the myeloma community. This broader view is really the hallmark of a warrior.”

With this in mind, the IMF is asking individuals and groups to spread myeloma awareness on a global scale by using the hashtag #myelomawarrior on all your social media channels. When using this hashtag to share stories on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, these #myelomawarrior posts will stream to the IMF’s “Wall of Warriors” at the Myeloma Action Month website http://mam.myeloma.org. This website also houses shareable graphics that participants can post on their social media channels.

Also available this year at this website is Myeloma Warrior swag, including T-shirts, sweatshirts, coffee mugs, wristbands, and hats. The IMF invites you to take a selfie dressed in one of these colorful items and post it to your social media channels as well. Even the simplest action to raise myeloma awareness goes a long way.

According to Susie Durie, President and CEO of the IMF, “It’s important for myeloma patients in all parts of the world to know that there is an organization that has their backs, especially as the IMF drives closer to a cure. In particular, the IMF has had a banner year, with such achievements as funding 40 simultaneous research projects around the world, continuing the largest scale myeloma study ever conducted – iStopMM in Iceland, and opening another “Cure” trial at 12 IMF consortium sites. We hope to reach patients globally to share these hopes that are on the myeloma horizon.”

How can you get involved this Myeloma Action Month?

• Use the hashtag #myelomawarrior on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
• Change your Facebook image and Twitter image to a MAM logo
• Get some Myeloma Warrior swag and take a selfie with it and post to your social media
• Contribute a public service announcement (PSA) to your local radio station
• Learn how you can start a support group in your local area by contacting Robin Tuohy, the IMF’s Senior Director of Support Groups.

Robin Tuohy adds, “We truly believe Knowledge Is Power. Each of our actions together, as Myeloma Warriors, unify us with education, strength and determination in raising awareness and finding the cure!

For additional information about Myeloma Action Month, please visit: http://mam.myeloma.org/

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT YOUR LOCAL MULTIIPLE MYELOMA SUPPORT GROUP!

The Central New Jersey Multiple Myeloma Support Group meets the first Wednesday of each month in the first-floor conference room of the Steeplechase Cancer Center, located on 30 Rehill Avenue, in Somerville, New Jersey. The meeting begins at 6:30 pm and runs until 8:30 pm. No registration is required and light refreshments are served. Founded in 2005, the CNJMMSG has a membership of over 100 members, with 20-30 members attending the monthly meetings. This is an upbeat support group, and all phases of the disease are discussed from MGUS to active Myeloma, to those members in Complete Response. This group provides information to its members in the form of informative speakers every other month, as well as group support and encouragement from attending myeloma patients, caregivers, and family members. New members receive a “welcome bag”, containing valuable information for the newly diagnosed patient. A successful and inspiring Miracles for Myeloma 5K Run/Walk, held in Clark New Jersey, is supported by the group, and organized with the help of two group members. Last year the Miracles 5K raised over $80,000 for the International Myeloma Foundation, who then presented the monies in the form of a Research Grant, to a researcher working to find a cure for Myeloma. This Grant was presented to the researcher at the ASH (American Society of Hematology) conference in December 2018. In total, Miracles has raised over $500,000 for myeloma research! This year’s Miracles for Myeloma 5K will be held at Oak Ridge Park, in Clark, New Jersey on Saturday, September 21, 2019. For more group information visit their website centralnj.support.myeloma.org or contact them at the group’s email at centralnj@imfsupport.org. You can also visit the group on Facebook and Twitter.

ABOUT MULTIPLE MYELOMA

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the bone marrow plasma cells -- white blood cells that make antibodies. A cancerous or malignant plasma cell is called a myeloma cell. Myeloma is called “multiple” because there are frequently multiple patches or areas in bone where it grows. It can appear as both a tumor and/or an area of bone loss, and it affects the places where bone marrow is active in an adult: the hollow area within the bones of the spine, skull, pelvis, rib cage, and the areas around the shoulders and hips.

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA FOUNDATION

Founded in 1990, the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is the first and largest foundation focusing specifically on multiple myeloma. The Foundation’s reach extends to more than 525,000 members in 140 countries worldwide. The IMF is dedicated to improving the quality of life of myeloma patients while working toward prevention and a cure by focusing on four key areas: research, education, support, and advocacy. The IMF has conducted more than 250 educational seminars worldwide, maintains a world-renowned InfoLine, and in 2001, established the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG), a collaborative research initiative focused on improving myeloma treatment options for patients. In 2012, the IMF launched the Black Swan Research Initiative®, a groundbreaking research project aimed at curing myeloma. The IMF can be reached at (800) 452-CURE (2873). The global website is www.myeloma.org. Follow the IMF on Twitter @IMFmyeloma.

CONTACT:

Central New Jersey Multiple Myeloma Support Group

centralnj.support.myeloma.org

centralnj@imfsupport.org