SFA Spotlight                                                                           December 2014  
In This Issue
SFA Gift Shop
Vehicle Donation
Dedicate a Page
You are Critical to Our Cause
Rare Disease Week
Patient Stories
SFA Patient & Caregiver App Survey
You Can Help!
SFA Gift Shop
Not only do the items purchased through our gift shop help increase sarcoma awareness, a portion of each sale is donated to the SFA for sarcoma research.

Visit the SFA Gift Shop

Please remember that you can also help SFA by going through any of our "Shop for a Cause" links before doing any online shopping.

Vehicle Donation
Dedicate a Page
You are Critical to Our Cause 

As we approach the end of another year, the Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) would like to take a moment to thank you. Because of supporters like you, the SFA has been able to invest more than $5 million over the past 11 years in much needed sarcoma research. You have made the SFA the leading voice for sarcoma patients!

Thanks to your generous donations this year, the Sarcoma Foundation of America has made substantial investments over the course of 2014 to advance toward the cure for sarcoma.

  • SFA awarded a half million dollars through our annual Sarcoma Innovation Research Grant Program, providing individual sarcoma researchers throughout the United States with the funding spark vital to unlocking the secrets of sarcoma.
  • Fueling the discovery of new therapies for sarcoma patients, the SFA designated an additional quarter of a million dollars in collaborative,  interdisciplinary research through our alliances with medical centers, as well as through the Sarcoma Specialized Program of Research Excellence.
  • Partnering with others in the community, the SFA is funding a groundbreaking clinical trial with a breakthrough therapeutic that unleashes the power of the immune system, changing the landscape of cancer and providing real hope to patients.

While we have made many strides over the years, we cannot continue to have such a strong impact without your continued support. Federal funding for sarcoma research is very limited, with less than 1% of the National Cancer Institute's budget directed toward sarcoma.

 

You are Critical to our Cause

The SFA has made it a priority to fill this funding gap, but we must do more! Only with more research can we stop this insidious disease in its tracks - a disease that attacks anytime without warning.

 

You can help us move closer to new and better therapies by making a tax-deductible donation of $25, $50, $100, $500 or more to support the Sarcoma Foundation of America's mission to find the cure in our time.  Do something today by making a charitable contribution to the SFA.

 
 
Rare Disease Week 
 

With the end of 2014 quickly approaching, it's time to start looking ahead toward next year's efforts.  One of the first major events of 2015 is Rare Disease Week, which will be observed February 23 - 27.  This is an ideal time to make your voice heard by participating in the week's events in Washington, DC.  The events, coordinated by the Rare Disease Legislative Advocates (RDLA), include a legislative conference, a Capitol Hill lobby day, and a Rare Disease Congressional Caucus Briefing.   

 

More information, including details on how to register, can be found at http://rareadvocates.org/rdw/.  You can still be a part of this important week even if you can't make the trip to Washington, DC.  Please consider sharing your story of how your life has been impacted by sarcoma at http://rareadvocates.org/rdw/patientstories/.  These stories will be hand delivered to congressional offices during Rare Disease Week to bring further attention to the needs of the rare disease community.

Patient Stories
Each Wednesday, the SFA will share the story of someone whose life has been touched by sarcoma. If you or a loved one has been impacted by sarcoma cancer, we encourage you to share your story.

Sharing your story can be such an inspiration to others who are dealing with sarcoma in their own life and remind us all of the urgency to find better treatments in order to make an impact on the devastation that sarcoma cancer brings. Let your experiences help others become involved with raising awareness!
 

SFA Patient & Caregiver App Survey 
The Sarcoma Foundation of America is pleased to be partnering with Self Care Catalysts to develop a mobile self-care tool. We chose Self Care Catalysts as they are an innovative company that believes that the patients and caregivers should be put first. The self-care tool they have designed includes great features such as: a medication tracker, a place to tack your mood and personal thoughts, a dedicated health calendar, and the ability to monitor symptoms that are meaningful to you. The goal is to help people to learn from themselves how to manage their personal health and wellness. One thing we think is great about this tool is the Circle of Support, which is the ability for people to message and share through the app.

This survey is your chance to help us make the app even better. So please take your time to answer as this will help us make the best possible app for our community.

If you had or have sarcoma, please complete this Patient App Survey.

If you are the caregiver of someone who has or had sarcoma, please complete this Caregiver App Survey.
You Can Help!  Every Dollar Counts! 
Interested in holding a fundraising event?  Contact SFA Chapter Manager Patrice Guzman at [email protected] or 301-253-8687.  She will help you get started and answer any questions you may have.  The SFA has tools that you can use, as well as guidelines and suggestions, that will help make the most of your fundraising activities. 

 

Because of the grassroots nature of the SFA, we are relying on your local ingenuity to develop ideas for fundraising for sarcoma research. Rest assured that we will help facilitate your efforts so that you can have a successful event!   

 

Possible fundraising ideas include:

 

  • cocktail reception 
  • happy hour 
  • car wash 
  • wine tasting 
  • bowling tournament 
  • bingo
  • lemonade stand 
  • garage sale 
  • golf tournament 
  • car wash 
  • local run/walk 
  • gala 
  • casino night
  • bake sale
  • dinner/dance  

 

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