PATIENTS RISING CONGRATULATES 74-YEAR OLD DON WRIGHT ON HIS UPCOMING PLANS TO RUN OCT 25TH IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
Don Is Registered to Run in the 40th Marine Corps Marathon
He was Diagnosed with an Incurable Bone Marrow Cancer Multiple Myeloma 12 Years Ago when he Began Running Marathons
Washington, DC and Minneapolis, MN– October 15, 2015 – Patients Rising – a non-profit organization fighting for access to innovative treatments for life-threatening diseases – today said 74-year old Don Wright is running for his life!
Don went to his doctor with back pain and then left to run his first marathon on June 21, 2003. When he came back, his doctor told him he had multiple myeloma, an incurable cancer of cells in the bone marrow. At the time a patient was given three to five years to live. Twelve years later, Don is about to run is 90th marathon with cancer thanks to a combination of medical advances, his personal stamina, and support from his family.
“For seven of the last 12 years, I took a pill to manage my cancer. Imagine, a pill to treat cancer,” said Don Wright. “But multiple myeloma cannot be cured, so I am counting on continuing progress, research and access to the latest treatments to provide the next remission and the remission after that.”
Don is schedule to run in the 40th Marine Corps Marathon in the Washington area on October 25th. http://www.marinemarathon.com/ Don ran the Marine Corps Marathon in 2011, and in 2012 he achieved his goal of running at least one marathon in all 50 states. Don dedicates his running to Patients Rising, supporting the fight against cancer.
“Don shows us a cancer diagnosis is not the end of the road,” said Jonathan Wilcox, Patients Rising policy director and co-founder. “Not everyone can run marathons; not every patient can survive 12 years. But Don shows us that we are making great strides in the fight against cancer. Support for this work must continue. This is no time for us to ‘hit the wall.’”
Don’s adult daughter and his wife of 52 years travel with him and run half-marathons so they can spend their “golden years” together. He looks to clinical trials for the latest treatments, and he already has marathon number 91 on the calendar in Seattle Nov 29.
