Author Archive
By Tony Ferlenda, SFA CEO Tomorrow you will complete your courageous and compelling run across the country. Congratulations! Your journey has been an incredible thing to witness. And you have incredible stories to go along with that journey. Along the way you’ve received an education, you’ve educated others, and you’ve made an impact that you may never completely understand. You’ve said that the highlight has been the people that you’ve met. The patients, survivors, families, doctors, nurses and strangers on the street. That’s when you really feel the impact. You think you know, but you have no idea. I’ve used… Read More »
The SFA is delighted to introduce guest blogger Judith Hannan, who has been a writer for over 25 years. She is the author of Motherhood Exaggerated (CavanKerry Press, 2012), her memoir of discovery and transformation during her daughter’s sarcoma cancer treatment and her transition into survival. Ms. Hannan’s daughter Nadia was presented with the SFA Courage Award at the SFA Annual Gala in 2010. She is a featured speaker, a teacher of writing about personal experience to homeless mothers and at-risk adolescents and we are pleased that she has agreed to share her insights about her journey and beyond through… Read More »
By Cookie Rumely, Guest Blogger The love of my life, Paul Rumely, was diagnosed nine years ago with a soft tissue sarcoma. Sarcoma? We had never even heard of the disease and his was so rare that there were hardly any statistics. Approximately one year later, after having fought an amazingly courageous battle, Paul passed away at age 59 in 2005, with even the most notable doctor imaginable in charge of his case. Since 2005, it has been my great pleasure and honor to be involved with the Sarcoma Foundation of America in his memory. I just couldn’t imagine not… Read More »
As we quickly approach the end of 2012, we at the Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) would like to take a moment to reflect on some of the major accomplishments achieved over the past year. These successes are possible because of you! Because of the wonderful contributions made by SFA supporters like you, we are able to move more rapidly toward our shared goal – eradicating sarcoma. Earlier this week, Mark Thornton, President of the SFA Board of Directors, sent a letter to SFA members and donors thanking them for the role that they played in the successes that the… Read More »
We know that we’ve been writing a lot about Rita Saverino Romeo’s appearance on “NY Med.” But having sarcoma on a national stage like this was simply unprecedented. Just think – millions of people watched her story. Millions of people have now heard of sarcoma, many of them likely for the first time. Based on the reactions that we’ve seen on Facebook, Twitter, and the “NY Med” website, people were genuinely touched and amazed by her story. The fact is, Rita’s story is one of many. But she was given an opportunity that most will never have – the opportunity… Read More »
Back in April of this year, the 10th Anniversary Sarcoma Foundation of America Gala was held in New York, NY. Each year during the Gala, the SFA Courage Award is presented to individuals honoring their strength and perseverance in their battle against sarcoma. The honorees at the 2012 Gala were inspiring and their stories powerful. One of the Courage Award recipients, Kurt Weiss, MD, spoke on behalf of the group. Though we are months past this year’s Gala, we thought that the words that Dr. Weiss spoke this past April should be shared again. We hope you find his resolve… Read More »
Even though Sarcoma Awareness Month will soon be coming to a close, there is still time to take action and help raise the profile of this rare cancer. Our colleagues at the Sarcoma Alliance have undertaken an effort to have the United States House of Representatives officially recognize July as Sarcoma Awareness Month. Thanks to their hard work, Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) in June introduced H. Res. 722, a resolution expressing support for designation of July as National Sarcoma Awareness Month. Since its introduction, H.Res. 722 has gained two additional co-sponsors. With the month of July quickly winding down, now… Read More »