Author: john.podgorski@gmail.com

2025 Spring Zoom Meeting Agenda

For those who are new, the Ottawa-Gatineau Multiple Myeloma Community Network invites Myeloma patients, family, caregivers and friends to our 2025 spring monthly information and sharing meetings. The mission of the Community Network is to provide hope and to empower Myeloma patients, family, caregivers and friends through education, advocacy, patient care and support and sharing experiences.  

The meetings take place on the first Wednesday of the month, start at 7:00PM and last an hour and a half.  Zoom details on how to join the meetings will be provided prior to each session. We look forward to “seeing” you!

Wednesday, February 5th   Spotlight on Caregivers.    Anne-Marie Bouthillette from the Ontario Caregiver Organization will talk to us about caregiving in general and will share information about helpful resources and supports for caregivers.  We hope both patients and their care partners will find this perspective helpful.

Wednesday, March 5th    Getting A Good Night’s Sleep Is not always easy.  Dr. Sheila Garland (departments of Psychology and Oncology at Memorial University , and registered clinical psychologist) will speak to us regarding her extensive work and research in this area.  .

Wednesday, April  2nd   We will have a presentation by Judi Perry Brinkert from Wellspring, who will give an overview of their programs, and their relevance to the Myeloma community. 

Wednesday, May 7th   We will be joined by Dr. Scott McComb  (NRC and  the University of Ottawa) who will talk about New targets for Antibody Therapy.  Some of his research has been in collaboration with Dr. Visram.

Wednesday, June 4^th  For our last before the summer break, we are planning a share and care session.

Come join us virtually!

We are also hoping to have an in person (informal) meeting, outdoors at Britannia Park later in June (details to follow nearer the time)

For more information on the Ottawa –Gatineau Community Network please contact: Jean Shepherd at 613 277 4886; jean.shepherd@rogers.com or Linda Percy; jalakhuyoga@gmail.com

The Ottawa Hospital, a leading academic health, research, and learning hospital, offers comprehensive care for multiple myeloma, including expert hematology services, research, and clinical trials, and is affiliated with the University of Ottawa. 

• Comprehensive Cancer Care:The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Program aims to provide world-class cancer care, encompassing prevention, assessment, treatment, support, follow-up, and end-of-life care. 
• Hematology Program:The Ottawa Hospital Hematology Program provides expert care and management for diseases of the lymph glands, blood, or bone marrow, including multiple myeloma. 
• Expert Team:The program features a multidisciplinary team of hematologists, including Dr. Christopher Bredeson (Head of Malignant Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation) and Dr. Marc Carrier (Chief, Division of Hematology). 
• Research and Clinical Trials:The Ottawa Hospital is actively involved in research to improve the understanding and treatment of blood cancers like multiple myeloma, including conducting clinical trials and offering experimental therapies. 
• Transplantation and Cellular Therapy:The Ottawa Hospital has a Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Program that treats various blood disorders, including multiple myeloma, and offers stem cell transplant and CAR T-cell therapy. 
• Patient Education and Resources:The Ottawa Hospital provides patient education, information, and resources to help patients and their families understand their diagnosis, treatment, and manage symptoms and emotions. 
• Supportive and Palliative Care:The hospital offers supportive and palliative care services, including an award-winning CARE program for those with malignant effusions. 
• Location:The Ottawa Hospital Hematology Program is located at 501 Smyth Road, K1H 8L6. 
• Referral Process:Referrals to the Hematology Program are accepted only from physicians and can be faxed to the Hematology office. 

2024 Steps to a Cure Ottawa Gatineau raised:

$56,000

Sincere thanks to all who worked on the event

and all who contributed!

This is the 16th year that Myeloma Canada has sponsored the walks across the country.  Funds raised through the walks support the pursuit of curing and preventing the multiple myeloma, accelerating access to the best care, and empowering and improving the lives of all Canadians affected by myeloma.

The Ottawa Hospital has also gained our financial support.

Frank Shepherd and Glen Hussey,

This year the Multiple Myeloma Marches across Ontario have over forty communities across the country participating in this fundraising event.

We are officially one month away from our Ottawa-Gatineau Myeloma March “Steps to a Cure”, which takes place at the Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre in Britannia on September 22nd.   If you haven’t yet had the opportunity, we encourage you to register on-line, as an individual, or as part of a team.

Fundraising and registration can be completed at stepstoacure.ca , or by accessing the Ottawa-Gatineau location through the Myeloma Canada March page on the Myeloma Canada website myeloma.ca .   

Income tax receipts are issued for all donations over $20 by Myeloma Canada.

Donations for Steps to a Cure help to fund myeloma research at The Ottawa Hospital and at other research centres across the country.

Our fundraising goal is ambitious at $70,000, but we feel that helping to fund clinical research, as well as accelerated access to game-changing therapies for Ottawa/Gatineau patients, are extremely worthy and important initiatives.  

Whatever amount you are able to donate, we hope you will show your support by attending this community event with family and friends

We look forward to seeing you there,

Frank Shepherd & Glenn Hussey

We are currently just short of two months away from this year’s Multiple Myeloma Walk.  Plans are well underway.  The walk is scheduled for Sunday, September 22nd at the Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre at Britannia Park.  Myeloma Canada’s website is open for on-line registrations for teams and individuals.  

The site can be accessed through:  MYELOMAMARCH.CA  or at STEPSTOACURE.CA .

This is the 16th year that Myeloma Canada has sponsored the walks across the country.  Funds raised through the walks support the pursuit of curing and preventing the multiple myeloma, accelerating access to the best care, and empowering and improving the lives of all Canadians affected by myeloma.

This will be a fun event for families, caregivers, and friends.  We look forward to seeing you all there.  Please mark your calendars and join us for what promises to be a fun afternoon. 

Let’s make this an event to remember!

Just a reminder that we have booked the Britannia Park Gazebo on Wednesday, on June 26th for an in-person outdoor meeting from 1:30 to 4PM.  Last year’s event was a great success!  For those who are comfortable with attending, this is a chance to get together (actually meet each other!) and share our stories and experiences.  And of course lots of laughter!  

There are tables and benches in the gazebo, but you may want to bring your own chairs, snacks and drinks.

To get to Britannia Park Gazebo, go north on Pinecrest Road, straight across Carling Avenue onto Greenview Road towards the Ron Kobus Center.  Just passed the Tennis Club dome (on the left), turn right to the parking lot (before Ron Kolbus).  The Gazebo is near the end of the parking lot on the right.

 Hope you can join us.

Jean and Robin

For more information on the Ottawa – Gatineau Community Network please contact:

Jean Shepherd at 613 277 4886; jean.shepherd@rogers.com or

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday April 3rd at 7pm. 

Dr. Cipkar from our Ottawa Hospital medical team

will talk about new developments in myeloma research and treatments both at The Ottawa General Hospital and nationally.

For more information this meeting of the Ottawa –Gatineau Community Network please contact:

Jean Shepherd at 613 277 4886; jean.shepherd@rogers.com or

Robin Sully at 613 622 5461; maplecrest2553@xplornet.ca