Valley survivors of multiple myeloma pedal for the cause

By SAMANTHA PHILLIPS

sphillips@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Two local multiple myeloma survivors are raising thousands of dollars for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation through a bicycle trip fundraiser from Vermont to Canada later this year.

Brian Sabol of Poland and Tim Nash of Warren signed up for the MMRF Road to Victories Tour with the goal of raising at least $5,000 each to fund research on the rare form of cancer.

There is no cure for multiple myeloma. But the foundation has created 10 U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment drugs that overall have tripled a multiple myeloma patient’s life expectancy.

Ninety percent of donations go directly toward research.

Nash has been in remission for about three years, and Sabol has been in remission for about 3 1⁄2 years.

“We feel lucky,” Nash said.

They met through a local support

group for cancer patients and survivors.

Reflecting on the moments they were diagnosed, they both agreed all they could focus on was the doctor telling them there was no cure.

According to the Mayo Clinic website, multiple myeloma causes cancer cells to accumulate in the bone marrow, where they crowd out healthy blood cells.

“When the doctor told me, I thought, I’ve got to help the next poor b-----d who gets this. And I found a way to do it, by riding my bike,” Nash said.

Nash heard about the MMRF bike tour about two years ago. He did a full tour last year and raised thousands of dollars along with awareness for multiple myeloma by the end of it. Overall, the MMRF raised $213,000 from the fundraiser that year.

Sabol was inspired by Nash’s story and decided to join this year.

Before he was diagnosed, Sabol was a triathlete. Along with supporting the foundation, he hopes this fundraiser will help keep him healthy.

“This will keep me accountable, and it gives me a goal, just like the triathlons,” he said.

The bicyclists both received stem-cell transplants and take treatment drugs that have helped.

“We’re doing well, but so many people don’t react well with the treatment,” Nash said.

Sabol, who works as a clinical pharmacist, said, “I was scared because there used to be a 50 percent death rate. But there’s new treatments and more understanding of what happens at a molecular level with this cancer.”

“I feel lucky to have been diagnosed now rather than 10 or 15 years ago because of the treatment options,” he added.

Nash said people have been generous in donating for the fundraiser, and it gives him hope for humanity.

“The reason we are still here is because someone before us did fundraisers and donated,” he said.

The MMRF is the first and largest fund specifically focused on multiple myeloma. The nonprofit organization was created in 1998 by Kathy Giusti, a multiple myeloma patient, and her twin sister, Karen Andrew. The MMRF launched more than 70 clinical trials that led to the 10 FDA-approved drugs.

To donate to the men’s campaigns, visit https://endurance.themmrf.org/R2VVermont/BrianSabol or https://endurance.themmrf.org/R2VVermont/TimNash.