South Brunswick Resident To Hike Mt. Washington For Cancer Research

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — Dayton Resident Christina Bifulco and her sister Lisa Rothman will be hiking Mt. Washington to raise funds for cancer.

The sisters will be climbing the mountain for their brother Artie Bifulco who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2018. Artie completed his own climb last year. More: South Brunswick Man To Hike Mt Washington, Raise Funds For Cancer

The sisters will be raising funds for multiple myeloma research — a joint initiative between CURE Media Group and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) with sponsorship from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

"Many people don't know what multiple myeloma is, but also know someone or of someone who has or had it,” Bifulco said. Bifulco, 39, is Associate Director for Teaching and Learning Analytics at Rutgers University.

“I appreciate how the MMRF collaborates with GSK and CURE to ensure that 100 percent of the fundraising for this event I bring in goes directly to research and raises awareness of this disease.”

The sisters are part of a 16-hiker team including caregivers, family and health care providers. The hike begins Friday and concludes on July 11.

Rothman’s mother-in-law was also a multiple myeloma patient who passed away earlier this year.

“We were able to help and support our brother and his family, but unfortunately watched as my mother-in-law lost the battle to Multiple Myeloma this year. It makes you realize there is so much more that could be done,” Rothman, senior consultant at Intelligent Automation said.

“Foundations like the MMRF, the doctors and researchers will save my brother’s life, in our lifetime. There is no other option. Their passion and life’s work requires funding. That is why I hike Mt. Washington, so others don’t have to go through it, or be forced to watch their loved one’s battle.”

Although the task to scale the 6,288-foot-high summit is daunting, the sisters are taking inspiration from their brother’s battle with the disease.

"Summiting Mt Washington with those who have a similar story, or maybe worse will take its toll. But I’ll continue to remind myself that a few years ago my brother could barely walk but the doctors and research that we raised money for changed all of that," Rothman said.

“I am most worried about the bugs! It turns out I am mainly an outdoor patio person,” Bifulco said.

To help Bifulco and Rothman raise funds for multiple myeloma research, click here and here.

For more information on the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, click here.

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