Local Athlete to Participate in IRONMAN® Lake Placid 2014 to Raise Funds for Cancer Research

 Larry Rodman to Join the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation “Team for Cures” Goal of Surpassing $750,000  

 (Brookline, NH)— Larry Rodman of Brookline, NH will line up with other elite athletes from around the world for a great cause and bragging rights this July 27, 2014 for the iconic IRONMAN Lake Placid as part of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation “Team for Cures”. IRONMAN Lake Placid is the oldest and one of the most prestigious of the IRONMAN events in North America.    The MMRF Team for Cures raises funds for multiple myeloma research.  Myeloma, currently an incurable blood cancer, is the second most common blood cancer after non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The MMRF is the world’s largest private funder of myeloma research and has created research models that are serving as a blueprint to accelerate treatments for the disease and other cancers.    For the IRONMAN Lake Placid event, Larry will race in honor of his friend, Jeanne Dryer, a multiple myeloma patient (and marathon runner) and a source of inspiration for Rodman. She is an active mother of two sets of twins who, despite her 2010 diagnosis has consistently upheld a positive attitude.   “The way she has battled this disease inspires me. It makes my toughest days seem easy…”said Rodman. “Being a member of MMRF Team for Cures at this world renowned IRONMAN event allows me take some direct action in helping to fund the critical research needed for so many others.”   The MMRF is the Official Charity Partner of IRONMAN Lake Placid, the ultimate showdown of raw athletic competition and human perseverance on the IRONMAN calendar. The grueling 140.6 mile race consists of a 2.4 mile swim in Mirror Lake, a 112 bike ride through the mountains of the Adirondacks, followed by a 26.2 mile run. Athletes must complete this distance in less than 17 hours to be considered a finisher. The MMRF will have more than 100 triathletes racing for Team for Cures on and will raise more than $750,000 for cancer research.
In 2008, the MMRF started an endurance charity program that has since grown to include a select group of world-class events that range from the TCS New York City Marathon to the Empire State Building Run-Up. In 2014, the MMRF Endurance Events Program will raise nearly $3 million with 1000 athletes, bringing the seven year total funds raised to more than $12.5 million.   In 2013, the MMRF Endurance Events program entered into an exclusive agreement with IRONMAN to become the official charity partner of IRONMAN Lake Placid– a perfect marriage among brands and culture rallying around the tag line: “Beyond Perceived Limits”.    “We have found ways to get the impossible done with events like IRONMAN Lake Placid,” said Alicia O’Neill, Director of Endurance Events for the MMRF. “The success of these events is directly correlated to the passion of each athlete who not only takes on the challenge of these strenuous races, but makes a difference in the lives of patients with multiple myeloma. These caring individuals reach out to their friends, coworkers, and family members, who in turn contribute whatever amount they can. It all adds up, and the power of one becomes the power of many.”   To support Larry, please visit www.active.com/donate/14mmrfimlakeplacid/adventurelarry   For more information on the MMRF Endurance Events Program, please visit www.themmrf.org/enduranceevents or contact Alicia O’Neill at oneilla@themmrf.org or 203-652-0216.    About Multiple Myeloma Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cell. It is the second most common blood cancer. An estimated 24,050 adults (13,500 men and 10,550 women) in the United States will be diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2014 and an estimated 11,090 people are predicted to die from the disease. The five-year survival rate for multiple myeloma is approximately 43%, versus 28% in 1998.   About the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF)
The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) was established in 1998 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization by twin sisters Karen Andrews and Kathy Giusti, soon after Kathy's diagnosis with multiple myeloma. The mission of the MMRF is to relentlessly pursue innovative means that accelerate the development of next-generation multiple myeloma treatments to extend the lives of patients and lead to a cure. As the world's number-one private funder of multiple myeloma research, the MMRF has raised more than $250 million since its inception and directs nearly 90% of total budget to research and related programming. As a result, the MMRF has been awarded Charity Navigator’s coveted four-star rating for 11 consecutive years, the highest designation for outstanding fiscal responsibility and exceptional efficiency. For more information about the MMRF, please visit: www.themmrf.org.   For More information contact:     Terri Clevenger Tclevenger@continuumhealthcom.com (203) 856-4326