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770 People? Wait 'till Next Year
The Team Sarcoma 2006 Initiative is over.
It consisted of a core team who participated in the 7-day bike tour in Denmark and 25 local Team Sarcomas. We have now read all of the reports that the organizers of 25 local Team Sarcomas have sent us and can report that there were more than 770 people involved in a wide variety of events at different locations worldwide. Over 770 people! This is indeed well beyond our expectations. Four of the teams had TV coverage, one had radio coverage, and several newspaper articles were written about some of the individuals involved in the events. We expect more post-event stories to appear. Furthermore, although all of the pledges are not in yet, it looks like the Team Sarcoma 2006 Initiative will raise about $120,000. Scores of people worked to make the Team Sarcoma 2006 Initiative a truly international event focused on raising public awareness of sarcoma and raising funds for sarcoma research.
We have made a slide show of the teams and their accomplishments. We encourage you to download it, view it, and pass it on to those you feel might enjoy seeing it.
However, it's worth telling the story of one of the teams in a little more detail -- the core team in Demark. There were 49 of us that participated the entire seven days. Several people also joined our group for a day or two along the way. The group consisted of sarcoma patients, survivors, caregivers, friends, or family members who have lost a loved one to sarcoma. Our youngest participant had just turned 2-years old and, it'll be sufficient to say, that our oldest participants are in their mid-to-late 60s.
We were truly an international gathering, coming from Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Denmark, Portugal, Spain, Germany and several states within the US, including California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Washington State. We represented a wide range of professions, occupations, and backgrounds. Ten different sarcomas were represented in our group -- Ewing's soft tissue sarcoma, Ewing's bone sarcoma, osteosarcoma, angiosarcoma, liposarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, unidentified sarcoma. Askin's tumor, mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).
Team Sarcoma Denmark (click on photo to enlarge)
One evening after dinner, each person told their own personal sarcoma story and on another evening we had a "Luminary Service" on the beach in Marielyst. Both of these evenings were quite special, emotional and, for some, healing. Because everyone knew some of each other's sarcoma story, as we walked along and read each bag, the names and the words meant so much more to each of us. Cassandra, with the help of others, arranged the luminary lights in the form of a heart. This is a scene few of us will forget.
Our Luminary Heart (photo by Joe Linn)
People helped one another when problems arose and there were many friendships made that will last a lifetime.
There were two groups of riders - the "pros" and the "others" - and a group of “walkers”. Denmark is not as flat as many people would have you believe as each day we biked up and down many, many hills. No matter what anyone has told you, Denmark is not flat like the Netherlands. This is a myth promulgated by the Danish Tourist Authority. However, Denmark is very beautiful, bike-friendly, and the people are amazingly hospitable.
The Danish Countryside on Fyn
For the "pros" the longest ride was 60 miles (96 KM) and there were several 40-mile (64 KM) days as well. The "others" put in a few 40 mile (64 KM) and 25 mile (40 KM) days as well. Everyone gave one another inspiration and hope – we cried, laughed, biked, walked, ate and drank together. Many displayed courage. Finally biking into the Rådhuspladsen in Copenhagen on the seventh and final day of the tour gave everyone a feeling of accomplishment. All in all, it was a memorable event.
Rådhuspladsen in Copenhagen (photo by Ole Steen Nielsen)
The final banquet in Tivoli Gardens that evening brought an end to this wonderful adventure. We helped raise public awareness of sarcoma and funds for much needed sarcoma research.
There are, of course, many more stories to be told. Here is the complete list of organizations that held a Team Sarcoma 2006 event. Click on any these links and you can read about their event.
We are in the process of planning the Team Sarcoma 2007 Initiative. We hope to have well over a 1000 people involved next year. Please send me a note if you are interested in being involved.
Bruce D. Shriver, PhD Editor-in-Chief, ESUN
V3N4 ESUN Copyright © 2006 Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative.
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