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eRace Cancer Says 77-Year Old Don Wright Heads to the New Jersey Senior Olympics after 15 Years with Cancer and Still Undergoing Treatment
[September 05, 2018]

eRace Cancer Says 77-Year Old Don Wright Heads to the New Jersey Senior Olympics after 15 Years with Cancer and Still Undergoing Treatment


eRace Cancer, a social media campaign to educate patients about advances and innovations in treatments, says Don Wright heads to the New Jersey Senior Olympics as he prepares for the National Senior Games next June. Don was diagnosed with an incurable blood cancer called multiple myeloma in 2003. At the time the prognosis was less than five years survival. But since then, thanks to new innovative therapeutics, Don ran 100 marathons with cancer finishing at age 76. Now he is running in track and field events, and plans to run the 200, 400, 800 and 1500 meter races in Woodbridge, NJ, September 8th.

"I'm excited to be in New Jersey, because this is where some of my newest treatments were developed and approved," says Don. "As I told Bio New Jersey in a speech a few years back - that's the organization that represents the biotechnology industry in the state - because of innovation, I have lived to meet my little grandchildren and they know grandpa, and my wife and I are sharing our golden years together after well over 50 years of marriage. That's whatgood medicine is all about."



At his last meet in Minnesota, Don did pull a ligament in his left thigh and had to limit his events. He says he has to train more and that he will be ready to run September 8th. In a way Don finds it encouraging that although he has cancer, his biggest problems are the same ones that healthy runners face.

The New Jersey Senior Olympics are open to anyone who will be 50 years or older sometime this year. Events range from A to V: archery to volleyball. Don will be entering the Track and Field dashes and runs.


Don adds, "Good medicine requires a partnership between doctors and hospitals, insurance providers, and drug researchers and developers. When they all work together, as in my case, patients can live up to our full potential, and sometimes that just means being happy."

After New Jersey, Don plans runs in the Huntsman World Senior Games in Utah in October, the Florida Senior Games in December, and the National Senior Games in New Mexico in June 2019. You can follow Don's story on www.eRaceCancer.run, and follow him on social media at www.facebook.com/eRaceCancer, and @eRaceCancer on Twitter (News - Alert).


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