Soon after he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma \u2014 a cancer that forms in plasma cells in the blood \u2014 in 2009, Juneau resident Terry White was talking to his doctor.<\/p>\n
His doctor advised White to take disability leave from work and take it easy. White, who worked at Alaska Airlines and operates a charter boat, wasn\u2019t a fan of the idea. He discussed it with the doctor, who then granted him permission and gave him a release saying it was OK for him to lift 25 pounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll work from there,\u201d White said at the time.<\/p>\n
White worked way up from there. Nearly 20,000 feet up.<\/p>\n
Almost exactly eight years after his cancer diagnosis, White stood at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania with other cancer survivors.<\/p>\n
The climb, which took place this February, is part of a program called Moving Mountains for Multiple Myeloma<\/a> (MM4MM), which raises money for multiple myeloma research. The 16-member group this year raised more than $250,000, most of which goes to research. The members were all either supporters of the program, patients or doctors.<\/p>\n White\u2019s cancer has been in remission since 2010, but he still takes medication routinely because there\u2019s no cure for multiple myeloma.<\/p>\n At Cancer Connection\u2019s National Cancer Survivor Day awards ceremony Thursday night, White was named as the Survivor of the Year. He proudly wore his orange Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation shirt as he accepted the award on Thursday at the Juneau Arts and Cultural Center, and Cancer Connection Board Member Tish Satre said White was an easy choice for this year\u2019s award.<\/p>\n \u201cWe think Terry is an amazing person for Survivor of the Year,\u201d Satre said. \u201cFor his courageous advocacy, he\u2019s supportive of his fellow Juneau cancer survivors, his determination and commitment to advanced national scientific research and a push for a cure.\u201d<\/p>\n Prior to February\u2019s climb, White had lived an active lifestyle but had never climbed any substantial mountain. His father-in-law is an avid hiker in the mountains of Southeast Alaska, so White has accompanied him many times for what he calls his \u201cmarital obligation.\u201d Kilimanjaro \u2014 the world\u2019s tallest mountain that isn\u2019t part of a mountain range \u2014 is an entirely different beast.<\/p>\n