NORWALK, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) today announced that the MMRF will debut its MMRF “Team for Cures” field of 100 triathletes at the IRONMAN® Lake Placid race on July 27, 2014. The MMRF is the Official Charity Partner of the 2014 IRONMAN Lake Placid triathlon, one of the oldest and most prestigious of the IRONMAN events in North America. The team is on track to raise more than $750,000 for lifesaving myeloma research this year.
In addition to this year’s event, the MMRF has opened early registration for the 2015 IRONMAN Lake Placid Team and will fill 100+ entries through the IRONMAN charity partnership. As the Official Partner of the 2015 event, the MMRF will back a team of 100-125 athletes to raise money to accelerate innovative treatment approaches to extend the lives of myeloma patients in hopes of finding a cure for this rare and as of yet incurable blood cancer. The IRONMAN Lake Placid triathlon historically sells out via general registration in a matter of minutes on the day following the previous years’ race. Interested athletes can join the MMRF “Team for Cures” now, prior to general registration and receive discounted registration and VIP benefits.
The MMRF-IRONMAN partnership further establishes the bold leadership position of the MMRF in the category of premier endurance sporting events. The foundation’s Endurance Events Program has a significant presence in world-class events such as the TCS New York City Marathon, Boston Marathon, London Marathon, and the Empire State Building Run-Up.
“The MMRF is a game-changing organization that, with the help of its visionary partners, has transformed the way cancer research is done,” said Alicia O’Neill, MMRF Director of Endurance Events. “We are thrilled to partner with IRONMAN, one of the most iconic and highly regarded sports brands in the world, to engage a powerful new group of supporters: IRONMAN triathletes. These athletes possess remarkable drive and determination that perfectly align with our foundation’s focus on determination, speed and urgency to overcome adversity and make things happen.”
The MMRF charity entries for the 2015 IRONMAN Lake Placid event will offer special benefits designed to attract athletes who are looking for a VIP experience and who want to secure their race entry early. Interested athletes can register online to secure an entry for next year’s race. MMRF athletes, who sign up before July 27, 2014, can lock in a 2015 IRONMAN Lake Placid entry by paying a $250 MMRF team registration fee and agree to raise a minimum of $5,000 for the MMRF.
2015 MMRF “Team for Cures” athletes will also receive special placement in the race’s transition areas, adjacent to the professional triathletes, and can access the MMRF room block to book their hotel room, an important benefit in the small Lake Placid village, which has limited hotel rooms available. Other benefits such as a 32-week training program and coached conference calls by 21-time IRONMAN finisher and MMRF coach Tom Holland, as well as VIP spectator locations for the athletes’ supporters, will make the 2015 race a once in a life time experience. Moreover, the top two fundraisers for this year’s race will gain entry to the highly coveted granddaddy endurance event of the world—the IRONMAN World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
“We are honored to team up with the MMRF as the Official Charity Partner of the 2015 IRONMAN Lake Placid,” said Dave Deschenes, Executive Director of The IRONMAN Foundation. “Their passion and dedication to excel at what they do – speeding up cancer research – truly reflects what we at IRONMAN are all about.”
To register now, please visit: www.themmrf.org/IRONMAN.
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 $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.
About Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) Endurance Events
The MMRF Endurance Program offers runners, cyclists and triathletes access to coveted entries for world class events like the Empire State Building Run-Up the TCS New York City Marathon and the NYC Half Marathon. Other events include the Five Boro Bike Tour, New York City Triathlon, Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon and Boston Marathon among others. Since its inception in 2008, the MMRF Endurance Events Program has raised more than $12 million. For more information, please visit: www.themmrf.org/enduranceevents.
