Many doctors go the extra mile for their patients, but how many go the extra 120? -

On Oct. 1, Indiana University Cancer Center oncologist and researcher Rafat Abonour, M.D., will embark on the first Miles for Myeloma. Over the course of two days, Dr. Abonour, who is an avid amateur marathon runner, will run and cycle the more than 120 miles between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne in an effort to raise awareness and funding to study multiple myeloma, a rare cancer of the plasma cell.

This event has been planned entirely by a group of Dr. Abonour's patients and their family members, who are grateful for the care he has provided for their rare disease and hopeful that funding generated through this event will lead to new scientific discoveries and a cure for multiple myeloma.

Dr. Abonour will depart Saturday, Oct. 1, at 9 a.m. from IU Medical Group at Carmel outpatient facility at 103rd and Meridian streets in Carmel. He will travel north on Ind. 37 through the Hoosier communities of Fishers, Noblesville, Elwood, Huntington and Marion. The event will conclude in Fort Wayne at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at Lutheran Hospital's Heart Pavilion.

Patients and others supporting this event are soliciting pledges and sponsorships from individuals as well as corporations to fund research at the Indiana University Cancer Center. Gifts to support Miles for Myeloma can be made by contacting Amber Kleopfer Senseny at 317-278-4510, or akleopfeiupui.edu.

Sponsors for this event include Lutheran Hospital's Women's Cancer Center, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Zimmer, the E. Lyn and Christine Plaster Family and the Tom and Arlene Scheer Family.

Multiple myeloma is an incurable but treatable blood cancer. It has afflicted several well-known individuals, including politician Geraldine Ferraro, columnist Ann Landers and actor Roy Scheider. More than 16,000 Americans are diagnosed with this disease each year. It affects slightly more men than women, and African Americans and Native Pacific Islanders have the highest reported incidence of the disease.

The Indiana University Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center. Dr. Abonour was recently named the Center's medical director for the Adult Clinical Research Office, and he also serves as director of the Adult Stem Cell Transplant Program.

Media contact: Amber Kleopfer Senseny
317-278-4510
akleopfeiupui.edu

Detailed Miles for Myeloma Route Information:

Saturday, Oct. 1
Miles for Myeloma Send-Off Celebration - 8 - 9 a.m.
Sponsored by IU Medical Group at Carmel
Patients and their families will be present to wish Dr. Abonour well as he begins his trek to Fort Wayne.
IU Medical Group at Carmel (Springmill Center) located at 103rd and Meridian Streets on the north side of Indianapolis

Dr. Abonour will travel north on State Road 37 through Elwood

He will arrive in Marion at the Comfort Suites, 1345 N. Baldwin Avenue, at about 2 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 2
Dr. Abonour will depart Marion at 7 am and travel north on Ind. 9 and then north on Ind. 24.

Miles for Myeloma Luncheon - 11:30 a.m. to Noon
Sponsored by Parkview Huntington Hospital
Patients and their families will join Dr. Abonour for lunch and cheer him on as he continues running toward Fort Wayne

. Parkview Huntington Hospital, 2001 Stults Road, Huntington on Ind. 24

Dr. Abonour will then continue to travel north on Ind. 24.

Miles for Myeloma Finish Line Celebration - 4 p.m.
Sponsored by the Fort Wayne Lutheran Hospital Women's Cancer Center
Patients and their families will be on hand to see Dr. Abonour cross the finish line and hear an announcement of the grand total raised by the event.

Fort Wayne Lutheran Hospital Heart Pavilion, 7950 W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne at the intersection at Ind. 24 and I-69