Ann Landers’ Family Supports The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (NAPSA)—Multiple myeloma, a bone marrow disease that strikes thousands each year, may be coming closer to a cure. Margo Howard, the daughter of columnist Ann Landers has teamed up with The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF)to raise awareness of and raise funds for research into the bone marrow disease that recently took the life of her mother. A cancer of the blood, multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer, representing one percentof all cancer diagnoses and two percent of all cancer deaths. There are some 45,000 people in the U.S. living with multiple myeloma and an estimated 14,600 new cases of multiple myelomaare diagnosed each year. The MMRF and Howard want to help individuals and families affected by multiple myeloma by raising much needed research funds for this currently incurable cancer. “During my mother’s lifetime she was a great supporter of medical research,” says Howard. “It seemsfitting that, after her death, her name will continue to be connected with medical progress.” Thealliance between the MMRF and the Ann Landers family will focus on two majorinitiatives: A national fundraising pro- gram called the “Ann Landers Research Fund.” The nonprofit organization’s Web site will launch a special section devoted to the life of Landers, where visitors can also pledge their support for research to be conducted in her name. To donate to this fund,visit www.multiplemyeloma.org. Ann Landers’ daughter Margo Howard (right) and Kathy Guisti (left) of the MMRF team up to raise awareness of and funding for research into multiple myeloma. The MMRF’s annual 5K walk/run, held in Chicago, will be renamed “The Ann Landers Race for Research,” beginning with the running of this year’s event on September 21. You can register at www.multiplemyeloma.org. Since its inception in 1998, the MMRFhas become the world’s number one private funder of myeloma-specific research, supporting innovative efforts in the most promising areas of cancer research, including targeted therapies, immune therapy and gene array technology. To date, the MMRF has raised more than $15 million and has funded more than 36 research institutions around the globe, bringing scientific breakthroughs from the lab to the clinic and laying the groundwork for promising new treatments. To learn more about the MMRF and its programs, call 1-203-9721250; or visit www.multiple myeloma.org.
