Making a Difference by Working Together
An ESUN Editorial
From it’s humble beginnings in April 2003, when seven people who called themselves "Team Sarcoma" rode the 200-mile Cycle Zydeco event in south central Louisiana, the Team Sarcoma Initiative has blossomed into a major sarcoma awareness and fundraising movement. Over 16,700 people participated in more than 85 events all over the globe during the 2009 International Sarcoma Awareness Week. The effort required thousands of hours of work during the year by hundreds of people affected by sarcoma, including patients, survivors, caregivers, oncologists, nurses, and supporters from all over the globe who reached out to help and get involved. They did this amid very busy schedules in their personal and professional lives. Over 85 sarcoma organizations and groups were involved (see the article The 2009 International Sarcoma Awareness Week).
Most of the work of the Initiative goes on behind the scenes. Some people helped form one of the teams, some took responsibility for the logistics of one of the events, some made flyers, some prepared press and media releases, some made packets of materials that were handed out, some prepared presentations, some made signs and posters — the list of things that needed to be done goes on in a seemingly endless fashion. But, someone was always there to do what needed to be done. Everyone who helped has made a difference. All shared the common vision of increasing awareness of sarcoma internationally and raising funds to support sarcoma research, family services and clinical trials. In fact, teams in this year's Initiative raised more than 450,000 to support various cancer centers and advocacy groups. Given what was accomplished, saying "thank you for everything you have done" to everyone involved in this Initiative seems totally inadequate.
One of the events in the Initiative is the "Core Team" event which is called the Team Sarcoma Bike Tour. It alternates between being held in Europe and the United States. This year, the Core Team biked and toured the 184.5 mile (approx 295 KM) Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Towpath from Cumberland, Maryland to Washington, DC. There were people from ten different countries — Canada, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Spain and eleven states in the US. Thirteen different sarcomas were represented.
A special reception was held in Washington, DC, on Friday evening at the end of this tour. Given the international nature of the Initiative, the Ambassadors from Lithuania, Mexico, and New Zealand gathered with physicians and government representatives at the reception to honor people dealing with sarcoma all over the world. A press release summarizes some of their remarks, and videos of the speakers at the reception are available. Dr. Crystal Mackall, Chief of the Pediatric Oncology Branch of the National Cancer Institute, spoke about the cooperative spirit of the Initiative: "The only real way that any of us can make a difference is by working together. This is true for any problem, but it can't be any truer than for a rare disease like sarcoma. We are absolutely dependent on philanthropy, government, industry, all kinds of other people to fund our ideas."
We have already begun to plan the 2010 Team Sarcoma Initiative’s International Sarcoma Awareness Week which will take place during July 17-25, 2010. Come join us. Be one of the voices that will be heard!
V6N4 ESUN Copyright © 2009 Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative.