Patient Power® Says 76-Year Old Runner Takes On A Tough New Challenge After Finishing 100 Marathons With Cancer
-- Don Wright to Run in the ShamROCK 10K March 19th in Phoenix in Preparation for his 101st Marathon in June --
PHOENIX and CARLSBAD, Calif., March 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- PATIENT POWER® - connecting patients and advocates with knowledge and experts - today announced support for cancer patient Don Wright who plans to continue running after achieving the remarkable goal of finishing 100 marathons - with cancer - while on active treatment.
Throughout his 100 marathons Don has demonstrated endurance; now at age 76 he plans to add speed to build muscle mass, improve his heart rate and help prevent injuries with a series of sprints before his next marathon. His first race this year will be the ShamROCK 10k, in Phoenix, Arizona, Sunday March 19th.
"We recently featured Don in an interview on our online information channel for patients (www.patientpower.info)," said Andrew Schorr, Co-Founder and President of Patient Power. "I am blown away by Don's enthusiasm not just for running, but for being a symbol of how modern cancer medicines make it possible for him to do what he loves. Don is truly running for us all."
Don was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer in the bone marrow in 2003, just as he began running marathons. For seven years, Don took a pill powerful enough to keep him in remission, but last year there were signs that the cancer was returning. Now he's on his fifth treatment in 13 years. Not one of these regimens was even available when he was first diagnosed, and one of the drugs he is taking now was approved only a year ago.
"I'm powered by medical innovation," says Don. "I'm proud that with my new running program we are launching eRace Cancer 2.0, the next phase of our social media campaign to show patients and their families that there is life after diagnosis, and to show policy makers there is value in maintaining medical progress."
Even with Don's history of completing marathons, his sports medicine specialist says that as a 76-year old cancer patient, Don has to pace his training, taking what is usually a one-month program and stretching it out over three months. Like Don, everyone just starting a new exercise program should check with his or her physicians first.
"Treating cancer is really treating an entire family," says Ardis Wright, Don's wife of more than 50 years. "Our daughter Sarah and I get to travel with Don, and often run shorter races wherever we go. We are thankful that he has access to modern innovative medicines that have given us this extra time together."
Esther Schorr, Patient Power Co-Founder adds, "My husband Andrew has had cancer for more than 20 years, and in our case we're together almost every day working side-by-side. We are pleased the Wrights are joining our fight to bring this medical hope and progress to more cancer patients and their families."
After Phoenix, Don plans to run 10K races in Philadelphia and Los Angeles, before selecting a venue for his 101st marathon with cancer in June.
IMPORTANT LINKS:
www.facebook.com/eRaceCancer
www.twitter.com/eRaceCancer
www.patientpower.info
Contact:
Deanne Eagle
New York 917-837-5866
[email protected]
SOURCE Patient Power
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