Patients and Caregivers Aim to Raise Funds for Myeloma Research

The 2025 Iceland Cycling Expedition begins on August 27, 2025, where a group of cyclists will set out on a journey across Iceland’s landscapes to raise funds for the International Myeloma Foundation and support the fight against multiple myeloma.

CURE sat down for a joint interview with Ashley Dieks and Dr. Saad Z. Usmani. Ashley was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2022, and after her diagnosis, cycling became a symbol of resilience and an essential part of her life. She now rides to help spread awareness about the search for a cure for multiple myeloma. Dr. Usmani has been treating patients for approximately 14 years and remains committed to supporting patients and their families, taking on the responsibility of providing them with up-to-date information.

“It's important for newly diagnosed patients or those who have been on this journey for years not to lose sight of hope and to know that they aren't alone,” Ashley emphasized in the interview.

“There is a lot to look forward to. I tell my team that we have [a fixed amount of time] to cure myeloma, so let's get cracking,” Usmani added.

The pair discussed how bicycling can help patients cope with the emotional and physical challenges of their diagnosis, provide advice to those who may feel overwhelmed after their diagnosis, and highlight up-to-date information within the treatment armamentarium.

Dieks has been a paramedic since 2007 and was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2022 at the age of 36.

Usmani is a hematologist-oncologist with special training in multiple myeloma and he serves as the chief of Myeloma Service at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Notably, Usmani is also the chair of Fundraising for the 2025 Iceland Cycling Expedition with International Myeloma Foundation.

CURE: Can you share how bicycling helped you cope with the emotional and physical challenges of your diagnosis, and how preparing for the Iceland expedition has shaped your outlook on life?

Ashley: I didn't really get into biking this heavily until I was diagnosed. I was more of a weightlifter, and I did bodybuilding shows and stuff. When I was first diagnosed, I was pretty far advanced. I had a lot of bone damage and ended up finding out I had myeloma from all the bone fractures. So, I pivoted to cycling. I actually had my bike in my hospital room with me when I had my stem cell transplant.

Cycling was a safer way for me to exercise and still maintain that part of my life that I put a lot of my identity into. Fitness is huge for me, and I'm a paramedic, so I kind of have to be a little bit fit to lift all these patients. So, on a bad day or a good day, getting on the bike is just how I process everything. I've never let myeloma itself dictate what I can and cannot do. I just hop on the bike, and I kind of work through all the ups and downs and emotions with that.

From a medical perspective, how can activities like the IMF Iceland Cycling Expedition support emotional healing, community building, and long-term well-being for individuals living with myeloma?

Usmani: I think the event actually highlights the fact that we are this one big, giant community and that we have this platform for patients, caregivers, physicians, and researchers. All of us are in this together, and that creates camaraderie toward a common goal. I think events like this are more than just a fundraising event; they bring different people together and break down those barriers. Kudos to the IMF for gathering all of us on this platform to do so for an amazing cause and to support Initiative.

Ashley, many patients can struggle with dealing with their diagnosis and finding purpose after cancer. What advice would you give to others who may feel overwhelmed or disconnected from their previous sense of identity?

Ashley: I think [that is to be expected], and we're all going to go through those moments at the initial diagnosis, and then throughout, like when we relapse and are in remission.

What I found personally helpful when I was first diagnosed was finding a local support group and connecting with people online. I'm the youngest patient in Sudbury with myeloma, so I found it difficult because nobody here was my age, 18 years into their career, you know, with kids and a mortgage and all of these other things. I didn't really have a lot of people to relate to. So, I found my community online through social media.

If you're feeling disconnected, try to find a support group if that's your thing. Talk to people online that you've met through social media. I actually found out about the IMF cycling trip through a patient that I met at a conference in Toronto called “Healthy Matters,” and he did the Iceland trip last year. That's kind of how I connected.

Working out has always been a huge part of my identity, so keeping that and just pivoting and finding a new passion was what kept me going.

In the last few years, what progress has been made in treating multiple myeloma? What do you think patients should be most hopeful about today?

Usmani: Over the past seven to eight years, we have focused on incorporating both monoclonal antibodies and novel immunotherapies into the schema of myeloma treatment, and we're seeing some remarkable results. Especially for standard-risk patients, we're seeing greater depth of responses early on that are helping to create better survival outcomes for patients.

For the first time in a long time, we are now talking about a functional cure for myeloma, and our patients are living longer and longer. When I started in the field, the survivorship for myeloma was a couple of years. Now we're talking about 15 to 20 years and even more. Each year that we continue to add these new treatment options and improve the treatment scheme, I think we continue to raise that bar. It's gratifying to be part of that journey and to be part of this community that's helping us move in that direction. We have always had measured hope for our patients, and it's truly amazing to see this change in paradigm.

There is a lot to look forward to. I tell my team that we have 10 years to cure myeloma, so let's get cracking. That's not just something my team is focused on; I think the myeloma research community at large is huddled around that notion.

With that being said, what message do you both hope the Iceland Cycling Expedition will send to the broader public, especially to patients who are just beginning their journey and may be feeling isolated or discouraged?

Ashley: For me, I just think it's important for newly diagnosed patients or those who have been on this journey for years not to lose sight of hope and to know that they aren't alone. There is a big community out there where we will support one another, and you will always have someone to talk to and lean on.

Usmani: I've done several events over the years to raise money for myeloma research. I'm not a cyclist. I was part of the inaugural Iceland cycling trip last year, and I'm proud to say that I was probably in the lower tier of people who finished the ride. It's likely going to be the same this year because we have some amazing athletes on our team who have been fundraising and training.

What is really striking to me is that in each event I've participated in, you have patients and caregivers. You start the journey very formally; there's a barrier between healthcare folks and the patients and caregivers. By the end of the trip, you're all friends, and you realize you're all just regular people. I think breaking down that barrier and treating each other as human beings helps us create that community and bring everyone together. I'm always amazed by the friendships and stories we share and the memories we make during that time. That part always resonates with me.

I'm really looking forward to this next Cycling Expedition coming up in just a few weeks. For our audience and listeners, you can go to the International Myeloma Foundation's Iceland Cycling Expedition website, look up Ashley Dykes, and donate to her page. By doing so, you also become part of the story. That's what helps us be a community.

Transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness

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