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A cancer diagnosis didn’t stop Malcolm Stinson.
It inspired him.
Stinson made his mark as an accomplished triathlete in 1989 when he raced his first Penticton Ironman and was fast enough to qualify for the world championship in Hawaii. Twenty years later, he got the news he had Stage 3 multiple myeloma, cancer of the plasma cells in the blood that normally produce antibodies.
He was told he had just two years to live.
Instead of moping about his death sentence, it drove him to become as fit as he ever had been.
Stinson, who grew up in Prince George, went on to compete for Canada in five triathlon world championships. In September 2011, he finished ninth in the men’s 50-59-year-old category at the International Triathlon Union sprint world championships in China, a race his daughter Victoria also completed.
In July 2017, at age 57, while undergoing chemotherapy, he successfully completed 30 half-Ironman-distance races (two-kilometre swim, 90-km bike, 21-km run) - all in the month of July - to raise money for cancer research.
He was 50 when the back pain he was experiencing led to a blood test that confirmed he had multiple myeloma. He lived for almost 14 more years before he died of the disease in Edmonton on Oct. 18, 2023 at age 63.
On Saturday, Sept. 14 at Otway Nordic Centre from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., participants in the Prince George Multiple Myeloma March will pay tribute to Stinson and his efforts to raise awareness and promote research to try to find a cure.
“He was just such an extraordinary athlete, but also he was really good in construction,” said Iris Stinson, Malcolm’s mother. “I have stuff in my home that he did. I went to England and saw this corner (display unit) made of wood and glass and I really liked it., so I drew it and showed it toll Malcolm and he made it for me, and it’s absolutely incredible.
“He used purpleheart wood, which you can only get in South America and he built that and have my Ukrainian egg collection in there, like 300 eggs. He was really good in shop, it was in his DNA.”
Active throughout his grade school years as a rep team athlete in hockey, volleyball and basketball, Stinson graduated from Prince George Secondary School in 1977 and studied civil engineering at the University of Alberta, where he lived the remaining years of his life, working in the oil industry as a contractor and entrepreneur. Through his company, Stinson Technologies, he developed laser-tag arenas, and built wainscotting and doors for the housing industry. He also was a national-level ball hockey player and followed his daughters Victoria and Heather into BMX racing, representing Canada at the world championships.
Multiple myeloma, the second-most common form of blood cancer, is rare in younger men. Most patients are diagnosed in their mid- to late-60s. Every day in Canada, 11 people are diagnosed with the disease, which affects plasma cells found in bone marrow.
Last year, Canadians donated $800,000 to the Multiple Myeloma March. The goal of the Prince George march is to raise $10,000.
While there is no cure, Multiple Myeloma Canada says donations have spurred research advancements that have, in the past 19 years, resulted in significant improvements to quality of life and the doubling of lifespans in some patients.
While Stinson was in the midst of competing his 30 triathlons in 30 days he spoke to Calgary Herald reporter Kristen Odland about how he made the incredible feat possible.
“I’m one of the very lucky few that has virtually no side effects (from chemotherapy),” he said. “That’s how I’m able to do this. I thought that other people in my situation that are not having such positive results may feel bitter or jealous or some negative emotion ... but they’re not. I’m getting lots of supportive emails. People are taking inspiration from it. People that are having trouble with their chemotherapy are actually inspired which is a good thing. I’m getting incredible stories from people. People that are telling me that they were recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma ... and can see there is a full life ahead of them. They don’t have to be shut down.”
For donations and registration to participate in the Prince George Multiple Myeloma March go to the website.
Donations will also be accepted at Otway on the day of the walk.
Malcolm’s brother Mitchell, sister Laurisa and father Don plan to make the trip north from Kelowna to participate in the five-kilometre walk on the single-track trails at Otway.
Prince George author/historian Vivian Lougheed, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma 4 1/2 years ago, is also registered for the walk and has established the Northern BC Multiple Myeloma Support Group.
