Malvern Husband Competes In Triathlons For Blood Cancer Patients

MALVERN, PA —Tom Kramer's message is clear: “Never Give Up.”

Despite all obstacles, the 56-year-old Malvern husband gives his awe when competing in Ironman races to raise money for patients battling blood cancer.

Kramer started racing 33 years ago when his beloved wife, Pam Kramer, 58, was diagnosed with Myelofibrosis, a rare blood disorder.

As soon as the Kramers found out a blood stem cell transplant was Pam’s best chance at survival, Tom Kramer partnered with DKMS, the world’s largest blood stem cell donor center, to raise awareness of the critical need for more donors as he completed long-distance runs across the country to raise money for the nonprofit.

His wife got a match and had a stem cell transplant in April. She is on her way to recovery.

“Pam is way tougher than any Ironman I know, battling pain and ups and downs every day, but we will get to the finish line,” Tom Kramer said during an interview with Patch this week.

Pam Kramer said she enjoys walking and playing golf and hopes to get back to participating in triathlons.

The Kramers met in Manayunk several decades ago. They married and settled down the in Willistown Township section of Malvern, Chester County.

The two participated in triathlons, which involve running, swimming, and biking.

Pam Kramer expressed thanks to the blood donor and the medical staff at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital.

“I was very fortunate,” Pam Kramer said. “I was at one of the top hospitals in the world.”

How to become a donor

The process involves taking the blood from the donor and putting it through a machine that filters out stem cells for the patient. The blood is then returned to the donor.

• The most common method of stem cell donation is peripheral stem cell collection, which is used in around 80 percent of cases.
• Stem cells are obtained from the blood by a special procedure called apheresis.
• A donor’s blood is drawn from one arm and passed through an apheresis machine that filters out the blood stem cells and returns the blood into the donor’s body through the other arm.
• To increase the number of stem cells in a donor’s blood flow at the time of donation, they will receive a 5-day course of a synthetic protein called filgrastim.

What's next?

In honor of his wife, Tom Kramer plans to participate in two Ironman triathlons in July in Geneva and Lake Placid, N.Y., with the hope of raising $20,000 for DKMS which helps find stem cell donors for patients battling blood cancers.

An Ironman is a 2.5-mile swim, a 112 bike ride, and a 26-mile marathon. More information is available here.