Final Count of Participants: 16,894

A report of the week’s events, as published in the Electronic Sarcoma Update Newsletter, follows.

An Overview of the Week

The Team Sarcoma Initiative grew to involve 16,894 people in 2009. That number more than doubled last year’s and far surpassed our goal of 10,000 participants. The following graph shows the rapid growth in participation in the Team Sarcoma Initiative since its inception in 2003.

Growth Trend in the Team Sarcoma Initiative

A wide variety of activities were held around the world to increase sarcoma awareness, and teams raised over $450,000 to support various cancer centers and advocacy groups.

There were 2009 Team Sarcoma events in 14 countries and 28 states in the United States. Nearly all of the 90 events occurred during International Sarcoma Awareness Week, July 18-26, while members of the core team cycled from Cumberland, MD, to Washington, DC. The core team came together from 10 countries and represented 11 types of sarcoma.

An Overview of Team Sarcoma Events

As overall participation increased, thousands of people heard about sarcoma and attended sarcoma-related events for the first time. Lithuania joined the Initiative this year, as did teams in Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, and South Carolina. Australia became the country with the most events outside of the United States and added some exciting activities, including dancing and surfing, to the array of TSI events. The Mexico team once again held the largest local event, where more than 2,000 people raced through Mexico City and into the Olympic Stadium. Poland held their first major event, where more than 1,100 people cycled through Warsaw. In North America, tens of thousands of people heard about sarcoma at a Kansas City Royals game and a Toronto Blue Jays game.

From China to Croatia to New York, educational events remained a strong component of the Initiative. Groups of patients, families and friends hosted a variety of creative activities this year. A little girl in Virginia started “Emily’s Lemonade Stand for Sarcoma,”where she accepted donations and shared information about sarcoma with more than 300 people. Several volunteers in Michigan spent all day in the summer heat washing dogs and raising money for leiomyosarcoma research. And the temperatures in Texas soared as a group of friends washed cars in Katy, and runners dressed as superheroes raced in Waco. Online activity increased dramatically when nearly 3,000 people posted information about sarcoma on their Facebook pages. The list of teams and organizations involved this year is truly impressive and is given at the end of this article.

Participation Around the World

We are thankful for the hundreds of people who volunteered their time and talent to create such a successful global Initiative. We also appreciate everyone who participated, many of whom walked, ran, cycled, surfed, danced, hula-hooped and donated to make a difference.

2009 Press Coverage

Many team organizers and participants were interviewed by the media. You’ll find their stories in the right column of this article. The following official press releases provide more information about the Initiative.

Dignitaries Honor the Team Sarcoma Initiative
International Sarcoma Awareness Week
Moments in Sarcoma Winners

Enhancing the Team Sarcoma Initiative Infrastructure and Visibility

Last year we wrote about stepping up our efforts to accommodate growth in the Team Sarcoma Initiative. The dynamic Team Sarcoma website is a result of those efforts, and it has allowed us to keep visitors updated as events occur. During a special project called Moments in Sarcoma, more than 100 visitors wrote in and shared their sarcoma experiences with us. New moments were featured daily on the site from April through August, and two survivors who shared their experiences were awarded sponsorships to join the Team Sarcoma Bike Tour.

There was a drastic increase in the number of visitors to the Team Sarcoma site during July, and many event organizers reported surprisingly high turnouts. We also worked to grow Team Sarcoma’s social networking presence throughout the year, and we now have nearly 3,000 members in the Team Sarcoma Facebook Group, where we post news and event announcements.

We will continue to adjust the way that we work in order to support local teams, communicate personally and effectively with team organizers and the public, and spread the word about the movement. Because of the Initiative’s growth, we are seeking additional volunteers to help with global coordination. We will request that team organizers communicate with us by certain dates in order to ensure that we market events to the greatest extent possible. We also plan to streamline our procedures so that communication is quicker and easier for everyone involved. Your feedback and suggestions are welcome.

You are Invited

Volunteers are already working to coordinate and communicate next year’s global Initiative, which will occur during the week of July 17-25, 2010.

Committed and caring people around the world have made the Team Sarcoma Initiative more successful each year. Our goal in 2010 is to have 20,000 people involved in a life-changing Initiative. Families are invited to plan events in their communities to increase awareness or raise funds for sarcoma research. Advocacy groups and cancer centers are invited to plan events that will strengthen their ties with patients and increase their reach. Whether enjoying a backyard barbeque, an educational seminar, or a thrilling race: Together, we are making a difference! Visit the Team Sarcoma site to learn about getting involved.

Official Team Sarcoma events need to be registered with us before they take place. It’s a very simple process: Send us a note as soon as possible telling us that you’d like to organize a local Team Sarcoma event, and we’ll be happy to provide more information.

About the Team Sarcoma Initiative

Since its inception in 2003, the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative has coordinated the Team Sarcoma Initiative. The year’s effort was achieved through collaboration with numerous individuals and organizations that share a similar vision. Monies raised by Team Sarcoma events benefit many organizations and have funded more than $1 million in sarcoma research, advocacy and support to date.

In addition to cycling 184.5 miles, members of the core team took part in a beautiful indoor luminary service on Thursday night and a special reception on Friday night. Throughout the week, the group shared much laughter and a few tears as they discussed their experiences and enjoyed making memories together. There were 82 participants total, including day-trippers and special guests, and the tour was covered in the Cumberland Times-News. Distinguished speakers during the week included:

• Ambassador Audrius Bruzga of Lithuania
• Ambassador Roy Ferguson of New Zealand
• Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan Mexico
• Dr. David Loeb, Director of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Program, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center
• Dr. Crystal Mackall, Chief of the Pediatric Oncology Branch of the National Cancer Institute
• Dr. Martin Makary, Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Surgical Outcomes Research
• Dr. Jeffrey Toretsky, Associate Professor at the Departments of Oncology and Pediatrics, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Mary Curtin-Savard, author of The Letters

There were 556 people at the event, which raised $6,155.

The event started off with a forecast of terrible weather (extremely gusty winds, hail, thunderstorms!!!!). We had not had rain ALL summer either. We were a little worried about how the event would go and how many people would actually show up.

During registration (7:45-8:45am) there was lightening, thunder and LOTS of wind and rain. However, people just kept showing up! The race was to begin at 9am and we thought we might have to postpone the race start time. Yet at a little before 9am the rain stopped, the skies actually cleared up and the race started on time! We had a Pastor say a few words before the race along with a prayer, and then Jim Hauser started the race. The runners and walkers were off!

In each registration packet we put a “Sarcoma Knows No Borders” bracelet and Sarcoma Fact Sheet and a t-shirt that had the Team Sarcoma logo on the front, with Team Hauser on the back. We also had bracelets for people who donated at the event, and all 250 were gone at the end of the event!

After the race, there was a Kids Fun Run, where 45 kids ran a mile. Each participant was given a purple ribbon that stated, “I participated in the Kids Fun Run for Hope”, with the Team Sarcoma logo in the middle of the ribbon. At the bottom of the ribbon it said “TEAM HAUSER”. The ribbon looked really neat and the kids were excited to receive a ribbon for running.

Awards and door prizes were given after the race. Jim Hauser awarded each 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner with a prize and a medal that had the Team Sarcoma logo on it. On the back was inscribed “5K Charity Run/Walk for Hope in Honor of Jim Hauser.”

The event turned out to be so tremendous! It was unbelievable to see how much our community supported our event! And…the weather turned out GREAT!

• Read about this event in the Sandusky Register or the Fostoria Focus.

There was beautiful weather and a fantastic turnout of about 150 people for “All Wheels Welcome” 2009. Nearly $13,000 was raised for Sarcoma Research at Johns Hopkins, between registration for the event and generous donations from participants and their families.

We were so happy to see a variety of wheels in attendance this year: scooters, roller blades, bicycles, wagons, and even a wheelchair. We also had walkers and runners join in. Entire families came to the event…parents with their children, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. It was clearly a TEAM effort across the board.

Local area donors who provided fresh fruit, yogurt, donuts, bagels, coffee, juice, water, muffins (Einstein Bros Bagels, Donut Shack, Sheraton Hotel, Marriot Hotel). Our specially designed Team Sarcoma T-Shirt were all donated by the Mulhern Family and were provided with “Sarcoma Knows No Borders” bracelets to participants.

Everyone truly had a wonderful time and enjoyed being out for a good cause. We generated a lot of buzz for next year, and everyone is looking forward to Team Sarcoma 2010!

See this event covered on video!

About 110 people gathered to discuss the new Spanish Sarcoma Advocacy Group and to learn about sarcomas at this meeting in Madrid. During the meeting, the group received a video call from the United States where a Spanish family was participating in the “core” Team Sarcoma Bike Tour. Two television stations, two national newspapers and additional local media covered the event. After the meeting, participants spent an hour chatting and dining together.

This event was co-hosted by:

• Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda
• Grupo Español de Investigación en Sarcomas (GEIS)
• Asociación Española de Afectados por Sarcoma (AEAS)

See also: 2009 Team Sarcoma / Spain – Sarcoma Journeys.

Approximately 60 young patients, family members, staff and volunteers from the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Department at The Childrens Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) gathered at Van Courtland Park in the Bronx on July 18 to Stomp out Sarcoma and raise funds for sarcoma research. It was the third consecutive year CHAM sponsored a Stomp Out Sarcoma event. Participants raised more than $1,400 and for the second year in a row, 21-year-old sarcoma patient William McKay of the Bronx was the most successful individual fundraiser. Physicians from CHAMs Pediatric Sarcoma Program who participated in the event included orthopaedic surgeon Dr. David Geller, radiation oncologist Dr. Marnee Spierer, medical oncologist Dr. Petra Rietschel and medical oncologist/palliative care specialist Dr. Karen Moody. The event received local media coverage from News 12/Bronx and The Bronx Times-Reporter.

80 people (hoopers and supporters) participated in the Hoop for Sarcoma event. It was lots of fun, and one participant hooped for over two hours straight! Some hooped with multiple hoops! Information about sarcoma was handed out, and many people sponsored the participants and made donations for the Sarcoma Knows No Borders bracelets. We raised over $1300.00 and are enthusiastic about next year’s event.

There were about 100 participants at this event, which raised about $1900 for sarcoma research!

Registration started at 8:00am, and everyone received a shirt and a wristband. The bike tours started at 9:00.

The first group was age 0-3yrs. They rode their tricycles, ridding toys, strollers or cars 100 yards.

Each child that passed the finish line got a prize, which was a goody bag filled with assorted donated and purchased items. Next, the children 4-6 years rode their bikes, and some ran 300yards. Again each child that passed the finish line got a prize bag. These first two tours were done in heaps like a race, and there was cheering and clapping by everyone.

The next age group 6-9 years rode their bikes for 1 mile. We had a pace bike that they kids couldn’t pass so that it would not be too dangerous for those less experienced. There was a ½ mile side walk path that we used for the tours. Each child received a goody bag. The last age group was 10-12 years who rode their bikes for 3 miles. We had again a pace bike that the kids were unable to pass. There was a goody bag for all who finished the ride.

During the last bike tour we released any walkers who wanted to walk the path and read the history sections along the path in renaissance park. After all the races were done we decided to have one more run for the 0-3 year olds that slept too late for the first run.

When all the races were complete we gave out door prizes by calling the name of every child who was registered. Each child would come up and pick from the prized until all were gone. We served lunch bags and had about 200 bottles water and Capri Suns for the children. The lunch bags contained a sandwich with mayonnaise pouch apple little Debbie and chips.

We all had a great time, and all the volunteers helped with clean up. Our sponsors where, Chatham, Mayfield, Trek Bike store, Learning Express, Rock Creek, Freds, Big Lots, McKee Baking, Theresa and Bill Gearrin, Natalie and Preston Bell, PR and Mike McMahan.

Fifty-five people participated in this event and raised more than $2,200. Karen Dukas, the organizer of this event, reports about an incredible week of beautiful weather:

This year I invited people to take the challenge with me and run, walk or bike a 5K or 10K everyday for seven days. It is a huge commitment, but a having a healthy heart saved my life and I wanted to encourage others to have healthy hearts too. Many people solicited sponsorships or sponsored themselves and joined the team. Some committed to every day, and others did the days that worked into their schedules.

I ran everyday at 9:30am each day along lake Champlain. I did not run alone one day, and some days there were as many as ten of us. On the final day, 35 of the 55 team members were able to gather at camp for our final 5/10K. What a sight, 35 people running, walking and biking down Maquam Shore in our green Team Sarcoma Vermont shirts!

Thank you and blessings to the Seven 10K’s for Sarcoma team 2009! A special thank you to my niece Emily for being babysitter and secretary!

The week commenced with two awareness events in Vilnius and Kaunas. Leaflets were handed out to the public, and a concert of local artists took place in Kaunas. Sasha Song, an artist who represented Lithuania in this year’s Eurovision song contest, presented “Cancer Song,” a piece composed especially for Sarcoma week.

Other activities included kite workshops, hot air baloon flying and photo exhibitions. These playful events brought together many people from different walks of life, both having sarcoma and totally unaware of the condition prior to these events, which were the first of their kind in our country. Public Affairs Officer Mr. William A. James from the US embassy in Lithuania briefly visited our event in Vilnius.

In addition to increasing awareness, Sarcoma Week in Lithuania included events oriented towards the needs of people with that condition and doctors treating such patients. July 22nd was the day dedicated to people with sarcoma. Discussions took place on the disease and the psychological issues of dealing with it. Finally, a conference was organized for doctors in one of most respected clinics in Lithuania on sarcoma early diagnostics and treatment.

Although 2009 saw the seventh International Sarcoma Awareness Week, it was only the first in our country. Organizers tried their best to make the events both fun and useful for everyone involved and hope to make the week another good tradition in Lithuania.