|
WHAT IS THE MYELOMA ALBERTA SUPPORT SOCIETY (MASS)?
The purpose of MASS is to provide support to people living with myeloma, their caregivers, family and friends, as they deal with diagnosis and treatment. Current membership is 250, with 126 people living with myeloma and 124 supporters.
Regular meetings are held from September to June on the first Saturday of each month in the Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Edmonton. Topics range from round table sessions where members can share their experiences to presentations from invited guest speakers.
Fundraising to support research in Multiple Myeloma is another important role of MASS. Since the Society was founded we have raised and donated more than $2.3 million to local Myeloma research at the University of Alberta and The Cross Cancer Institute.
If you, your family members, and friends would like to volunteer on the board or in other aspects of MASS, we would be happy to work with you. If you are interested, please connect with a MASS Board member at info@multiplemyeloma.ca
NEW IDEAS
The MASS Board of Directors would like to hear what you enjoy about MASS, what we should change, and learn your ideas about speakers and events.
Please take a few minutes to complete the short survey:
https://forms.gle/3zqjS7JPy4JHgMzMA (if you have trouble with the link, please cut and paste it into your browser)
If you prefer, please send your thoughts and ideas to info@multiplemyeloma.ca
We look forward to learning from you!
MASS 2026/27 BOARD MEMBERS
Myeloma Alberta Support Society (MASS) would like to introduce the organizations Board Members:
- President - Hans Wolf
- Vice-President - Brian Vaage
- Treasurer - Rob Roy
- Secretary - Michelle Vaage
- Advocacy - Lorelei Dalrymple
- Communications - Calene Nicholson & Krystal Hoople
- Members at Large - Donna Maskell & Chris Beliveau
Welcome to the current members of the board. It is our volunteers who keep MASS and all it's important work going. Thank you!
Thank you to those who have offered their time and energy in the past. You are appreciated!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MASS 2025/26 YEAR
MASS regular monthly meetings were held from September to June.
In November 2025 MASS hosted a Wellness Fair, which featured a variety of topics:
· Dr. Michael Chu, Medical Oncologist at the Cross Cancer Institute on current research activities to develop clinical trials to manufacturer CAR-T cells in Alberta to treat leukemia and lymphoma
· James McDonald, Servus Credit Union, on cyber security
· Leslie Ternes with the Alberta Cancer Exercise (ACE) program, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta
· MASS member Donna Maskell sharing her experiences with myeloma.
Dr. Andrew Belch was a welcome speaker in December 2025. Dr. Belch is described as the Canadian “godfather” of myeloma treatment and research and has been at the forefront in developing treatment for people with myeloma. Dr. Belch retired in 2017.
Other speakers during the year included Dr. Mark Hnatiuk, hematologist at the University of Alberta, who spoke about blood clots and deep vein thrombosis.
This summer picnics will be held in a local park (weather permitting) and our major fundraiser, Multiple Miles for Myeloma 2026 (happens rain or shine).
MULTIPLE MILES FOR MYELOMA 2026
Multiple Miles for Myeloma will be taking place on July 18th, 2026 at Hermitage Park in Edmonton. Registration is open:
Registration
Standard Registration fees close on June 6th, 2026. Register before June 28th to be eligible for an optional free event T-shirt
For those of you would are not able to joins us but would still like to help us achieve our goals we are always accepting donations though Canada Helps. The link below will take you there via our website.
Donations
Please come and join us and help us raise a greater awareness of this disease. With your help we can continue to have fun and do great things while helping those we love.
Volunteers
Reminder we are still seeking to fill certain volunteer positions for MM4M. Please email info@multiplemyeloma.ca if you are able to volunteer.
OTHER MASS NEWS
MASS members Lorelei Dalrymple, Chair of the Myeloma Canada Patient Advisory Council and Donna Mackell attended the annual Myeloma Canada Support Group Leaders Summit in Moncton, NB. The days were full of excellent presenters such as a palliative care doctor and a health care researcher presenting on their medical podcast called “The Waiting Room Revelation,” and their book entitled Hope for the Best Plan for the Rest.
WHAT'S COMING TO MASS
Virtual Meetings
We appreciate that not all members are able to attend sessions in person in Edmonton. For this reason MASS is looking at hosting a combination of in-person and virtual meetings in the next year.
iCANSleep Study
There is a exciting new study involving cancer survivors that is being conducted in Dr. Sheila Garland’s Sleep, Health, and Wellness Lab at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN). The purpose of our study is to examine the efficacy of smartphone-delivered Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) in improving sleep among cancer survivors.
They are recruiting cancer survivors across Canada who have problems with sleep and who have either:
- completed active cancer treatment at least three months ago, or
2. who have been considered clinically stable for at least three months.
Interested individuals can email icansleepapp@gmail.com for more information or to determine if they are eligible.
iCANSleep Brochure
MYELOMA CANADA
If you do not subscribe to Myeloma Canada, we encourage you to do so at myeloma.ca. There is a vast array of information including latest research, webinars, recipes and publications. You can also sign up for their monthly newsletter through their website.
ADDITIONAL LINKS
There are other sites where you can read and obtain more information:
International Myeloma Foundation
Caregivers of Alberta newsletter
| 
