Running the Race for Dad

Patrick with his daughters, aka his cheerleaders!

Patrick Sansonetti is running the Falmouth Road Race in honor of his father, who died from multiple myeloma in 1996. “I am so impressed with the progress that the MMRF has made towards fighting the disease that I was compelled to help raise money,” he says. Running for the MMRF is his way of helping those who are battling multiple myeloma just as his father did, and when he runs the race, his daughters are right there to cheer him on!

Father, Brother, Neighbor- Judy Runs For Them All!

Judy with her brother, Dave

Judy Maruca runs for her neighbor, a young mother of 3, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma 5 years ago. She also joined our team for her father, who was diagnosed with Waldenstroms Macroblastic Anemia. The MMRF’s work does not just benefit myeloma patients; many of the protocols for other conditions, like Judy’s father’s, are derived from myeloma research. Her father taught Dr. Kenneth Anderson, a leading oncologist at the Dana Farber Cancer Foundation, in high school, and now, Dr. Anderson treats his former teacher!

                Sadly, Judy also runs in honor of her brother, who should be running with her. Two months after committing to run for the MMRF he was paralyzed by a GMB of the spine, and he only recently passed away. “My brother was a wonderful man who ran many marathons, climbed mountain ranges and inspired people all over the world,” says Judy. In light of this tragedy, she still finds the strength to pursue her goal and touch the lives of those people who have been affected by cancer; “As I ran the other day, I thought to myself, ‘I run in joy for those cured of cancer, in hope for those living with cancer and in honor of those who have succumbed to cancer.’”

Linda Runs for Andrew, a "Dear Friend"

Linda Barney enjoys running the Falmouth Road Race each year. She joined the MMRF PowerTeam because her dear friend Andrew lost his battle with multiple myeloma. “He was much too young to die from this disease,” she says. “I am proud to be running and raising funds in his memory.”

A Great Honor

Samantha Mills, who only started running this year, is thrilled to be competing the Falmouth Road Race for her mom! She feels deeply honored to be able to support her mom, who is almost 9 years in remission after a stem cell transplant. Samantha says that the privilege of being able to run is hard to explain. “The fact that I get a chance to run and raise money for her… She means the world to me!!!”

Paul Runs for His Father

Paul Ruggieri is running the Falmouth Road Race in honor of his Father, who passed away from multiple myeloma.  He is taking his own tragedy and using it to help other people whose lives have been touched by this terrible disease.

Grampy's Gals Take on Falmouth!

Coleen Stinson’s mother, Patty Payne, ran the Falmouth Road Race for the MMRF last year, and this year she is joining her to run in honor of her grandfather, Bob Payne, who passed away from multiple myeloma in 2000. She, her mother and her identical twin sister form team “Grampy’s Gals”, and every year they run together in the Boston Race for Research. Now this dedicated team is headed for Falmouth to run for a cure, and they will return for Coleen’s wedding in September!