The 2007 Team Sarcoma Initiative was truly an International Sarcoma Awareness Week, with more than 3,400 people participating worldwide. This number more than quadrupled last year’s total of 825 participants! Over $150,000 was raised to support sarcoma research and families.
People participated in a wide variety of events with the same goal in mind: to raise public awareness of sarcoma. Many of the teams also raised funds to support sarcoma research, clinical trials, and patient and family services.
There were teams in Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and 21 states in the United States. The participants on the “core” Team Sarcoma rode and walked through the hills and valleys of the Lake Champlain area of Vermont and were a small microcosm of the overall event, coming from 9 different countries as well as 12 states in the United states, and they represented 9 sub-types of sarcoma.
Vermont
In 2007, the “core” Team Sarcoma biked in the Lake Champlain area of Vermont during July 14-21. There were 52 participants on the team representing nine countries (China, Denmark, France, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands and the United States) and 11 sub-types of sarcoma. They were joined by a number of “day trippers” along the way, including sarcoma oncologists, nurses, patients, caregivers, and survivors. The makeup of this team showed the international nature of the Team Sarcoma Initiative.
Kansas
Mary-Elizabeth, a chondrosarcoma survivor who was on the Team Sarcoma Bike Tour in Vermont, organized a Sarcoma Family Fiesta on July 22. It took place at the TimberRidge Adventure Center in Olathe, Kansas. There was lots to do: picnicing, catch & release fishing, hiking, climbing and hula hooping.
New York
Children’s Sarcoma: A Learning Event for Parents, Caregivers, Physicians, Friends and Families of Children Living with Sarcoma. This event was held on July 22 in the 2nd Floor Conference Room at 3415 Bainbridge Avenue in the Bronx, New York. Speakers included Dr. Marnee Spierer, Dr. David Geller, and Dr. Richard Gorlick. A light breakfast was served. Event announcement (Adobe PDF Document).
Maryland
Walk Around the Park. This event, held in memory of Bradley Rice, took place at Baker Park in Frederick, Maryland on on July 22.
Report: Maryland’s team, Team Sarcoma/Bradley, had an unexpected turnout of 50 people! The “Walk Around the Park” in Frederick, MD, was attended by the friends and family of Bradley Rice as well as several families with children and spouses fighting, or surviving, osteosarcoma. These families knew of one another and chose to use our event as an opportunity to meet for the first time, bringing extended families with them. As the children compared prosthetic legs, played a pickup game of softball and enjoyed the snacks we provided, we adults put our heads together and determined to join forces for Team Sarcoma 2008. We have high hopes that this cross-over between our different support groups and hospital associations will bring greater success next year. Saying this is bittersweet as I long for the day these events are no longer needed.
New Jersey
The Peter Skelton Sarcoma Research Foundation (Team PSSRF) held its “1st Annual Walk, Run, or Cycle for Sarcoma” event on July 22 at the Riverwinds in West Deptford, New Jersey. There was a light lunch afterwards.
