Roughly 200 people walked from the Lion's Pavilion in Maffeo Sutton Park along the seawall on Monday, Sept. 2, raising awareness and funds about multiple myeloma. (submitted)

By Spencer Sterritt

good cause

Multiple myeloma awareness walk exceeds fundraising and awareness goal

Sep 3, 2019 | 4:00 AM

NANAIMO — Roughly 200 people marched along Nanaimo’s seawall for a good cause, raising awareness about a serious cancer which is treatable but incurable.

They walked in the long weekend sunshine on Monday, Sept. 2 for multiple myeloma awareness. The disease is a cancer of the blood which compromises the immune system and leads to serious late-in-life complications.

Co-organizer Susan McLean, who was diagnosed in late 2016, said raising $28,200 for multiple myeloma research was terrific, but coming together in a show of support was more critical.

“It really means a lot to know you’ve got support,” she told NanaimoNewsNOW.

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“Any time you’re dealing with a life threatening illness, you feel a bit isolated and a bit lonely. Unless you’ve been in that situation, you can’t understand.” _{Susan McLean}

McLean explained the most insidious aspect of suffering from multiple myeloma is how difficult it is to detect.

In the spring of 2016, she felt physically exhausted but attributed it to being a 62-year-old teacher working full-time with a large number of side projects and hobbies.

It wasn’t until she fractured a vertebrae while lifting luggage during a vacation she realized her body was reacting and rebelling against something serious.

“I was getting more and more tired. I couldn’t walk up the stairs at school anymore, I couldn’t carry on a conversation with people without getting winded.”

Roughly 20 per cent of those with multiple myeloma pass away within the first six months due to not receiving proper treatment.

McLean estimates she was suffering from multiple myeloma for six months before it was properly diagnosed.

She’s now in remission after four rounds of chemotherapy and eager to help others.

“All the money we’re raising goes to research and trying to find a cure. It might only be one per cent of cancer but it’s not like breast cancer where after treatment you have the hope of being cured…You don’t ge that with myeloma.”

The 2019 walk honoured Aldo del Col, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma seven years ago and passed away shortly before the walk.

This was the second multiple myeloma awareness walk in Nanaimo.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit