My uncle David Shayt passed away suddenly this past fall after a fight with multiple myeloma; a treatable but incurable cancer of the plasma cells. David was an important member of our family and loving husband, father, son, brother and uncle who spent the last 30 years of his career working as a curator at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, DC. Before college, David also served his country as a US Marine embassy guard stationed in Haiti and Guyana. His life's work took him on both exotic and not so exotic travels throughout the world.

Back in 2006, when I ran my first marathon in Washington, DC, David and my aunt joined my wife Michelle to cheer me through to the finish of the Marine Corps Marathon. It was special to me that my uncle, a former US Marine and long time Washington, DC area resident, was there than for me on one of the biggest days of my life.

Now, three years later, in honor of David's life and time in Washington, DC and the Marine Corps, I am training to return to DC for another run of the Marine Corps Marathon. This year, the 34th annual event will occur on October 25, 2009, David's birthday and I am running the 26.2 miles to raise money for multiple myeloma research and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation in his memory.

Please join me by donating to the cause and helping me find a cure to defeat multiple myeloma. Your tax-deductible donation will go solely to the foundation and does not fund any part of my race entry, training or travel and expenses for the event. The MMRF makes a commitment to put 94% of money raised directly towards funding research and medical trials to defeat multiple myeloma.

To donate, please use the Make a Contribution box below or get your donation check to me that is made out to the MMRF. Also, please check and see if your employer has a company matching gift policy. You can contact a HR representative or use the MMRF matching gifts search engine to find out.

Thank you for your support,
Jon