Mark Thornton, MD, MPH, PhD    |    Patricia Thornton    |    John Brooks, MD

The spark that ignited the start of the SFA was the diagnosis of then 3-year-old Jeffrey Thornton with sarcoma. His parents, Dr. Mark and Patricia Thornton, along with physician, Dr. John (Jack) Brooks, were motivated to act not only to help treat his cancer but others’ as well. Grappling with Jeffrey’s diagnosis, they found there wasn’t a national patient advocacy and research organization dedicated to sarcoma patients and their families. They sought to fill that void.

Together, they founded SFA on the idea that the sarcoma landscape needed to change.  SFA has had a significant impact on the sarcoma landscape and that is a direct result of our Co-Founders’ work bringing this vision to fruition. Twenty-three years later, SFA is now the leading private funder of research in the sarcoma community, the principal organization representing sarcoma patients’ voice on Capitol Hill, and the most comprehensive patient advocacy organization representing all sarcoma patients.  Because of the seed they planted, SFA has been able to invest more than $20 million and provide funding to over 50 institutions in 12 countries over the last 23 years. Together, they have impacted countless lives and brought the sarcoma community closer to a cure in our time.  

The three founders of SFA have tirelessly worked to make a difference in the sarcoma community. Their passion and commitment to find treatments and a cure for sarcoma have never wavered since SFA’s establishment in 2000. We are most grateful to them for leading the way in for an often-overlooked and devastating disease.

The Vision of Hope Award is presented to a person or organization through public or private actions has resulted in the advancement of care, treatment or awareness for sarcoma patients. The honoree impacts the lives of sarcoma patients and survivors providing them hope for a better future and whose achievements provide increased hope for better patient outcomes.

Jordan’s Dream Fund

Jordan’s Dream Fund was established in 2017 after the passing of 28-year-old Jordan Andrew Singer (1988-2017) from epithelioid sarcoma. His loved ones, wife Amy, father Robert, mother Ziva and brother Jason, were inspired by Jordan’s desire to extend a helping hand to other sarcoma patients whom he met during his five-year sarcoma journey. Many of these patients did not have the advantage of a strong support system and resources to pursue other treatments opportunities outside cancer centers. Jordan’s goal was to help others fight the disease through clinical trial participation, and aid in maximizing and enriching their lives. The Fund provides assistance with direct expenses related to transportation (airfare, gas, rental cars, etc.), and lodging for clinical trial treatment. 

The Nobility in Science Award is given annually to a deserving visionary, who has been a leading sarcoma surgeon and researcher and has taken on an integral role in advancing drug development for sarcoma patients. Awardees receiving this honor have contributed in a significant way to the advancement of, care, treatment, for sarcoma patients. This award is given to an outstanding scientist who is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge of sarcoma and works tirelessly to find new and innovative approaches for treating this rare cancer.

David Loeb, MD, PhD
Chief of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Cellular Therapy at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore
Professor of Developmental and Molecular Biology at Albert Einstein

Dr. Loeb received his undergraduate degree at Johns Hopkins University, followed by an MD and PhD at Columbia University.  He returned to Johns Hopkins for internship, residency, and fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, after which he joined the faculty.  He became the Director of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Program for the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins in 2006.  In 2017, Dr. Loeb moved to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he became the Chief of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Cellular Therapy as well as a Professor of Developmental and Molecular Biology.  His NIH-funded laboratory focuses on the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in bone tumor metastasis, with the aim of developing novel therapies targeting the unique biology of metastasis.  Other projects in the laboratory include studies related to RNA helicase DDX3 and its role in DNA damage repair and the metabolic differences between a primary tumor and metastases.  More recent work is investigating the role of the intestinal microbiome on sarcoma metastasis and exploring the hypothesis that treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy might paradoxically increase tumor cell dissemination and the risk of developing metastasis.  In addition to his laboratory work, Dr. Loeb has written and conducted multiple clinical trials and is an active participant in several cooperative groups, including Children’s Oncology Group and the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation’s Sunshine Project.  He also serves on SFA’s Medical Advisory Board.

Anjali Albanese, MSW, LSW, OSW-C

Anjali Albanese is a licensed social worker with Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, Pa. She received her Master of Social Work from the School of Social Work at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Montclair State University. 

Anjali was nominated for the SFA Compassionate Care Award by her patient Tiffany Sontos and her coworker Stephanie Greco. “I have learned how to fly with broken wings, and I have Anjali to thank, because she is one of my biggest cheerleaders,” says Sontos. “She is my navigator through the healthcare system and most importantly she sees me as a person not just a number. Anjali truly is and will always be my angel on earth.”

Courage Award honorees illustrate, through their personal efforts and actions, sarcoma advocacy. These individuals are patients, survivors, caregivers, and advocates who inspire others by using their platform on behalf of sarcoma patients and survivors to create hope and a better life/or the sarcoma community. Many do not think they have done something special but who have inspired others and are making a difference/or sarcoma patients and their families. The Courage Award honors patients who have demonstrated strength and perseverance in their sarcoma diagnosis.

Jacky Hunt-Broersma

Jacky Hunt-Broersma lost her lower left leg to Ewing sarcoma in 2001. But that hasn’t stopped her from being an ultrarunner, mother, motivational speaker, and sarcoma survivor. She started running 5k races in 2017 at the age of 41, and quickly moved up to half and full marathons and then transitioned into trail and ultrarunning. Jacky secured a podium place at the Boston Marathon and Boston Half Marathon. She also set a Guinness World Record for running 104 marathons in 104 days.  In 2022, she was awarded the Road Runners Club of America Road Runner of the Year Award. In addition to her work promoting sarcoma awareness through running-related fundraising activities, she is also the coach for the SFA Race to Cure Sarcoma Marine Corps Marathon Team to help participants through their marathon journey. Originally from South Africa, Jacky resides in Arizona with her husband and children.

Amira Yunis Courage Award honorees illustrate, through their personal efforts and actions, sarcoma advocacy. These individuals are patients, survivors, caregivers, and advocates who inspire others by using their platform on behalf of sarcoma patients and survivors to create hope and a better life/or the sarcoma community. Many do not think they have done something special but who have inspired others and are making a difference/or sarcoma patients and their families. The Amira Yunis Courage Award honors patients who have demonstrated strength and perseverance in their sarcoma diagnosis.

Katie Wintergerst

Katie Wintergerst of Louisville, KY, is this year’s recipient of the Amira Yunis Courage Award.  Wintergerst was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma in her leg in February 2018. What followed was chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery to remove the tumor in October 2018. Unfortunately, the first round of scans in March 2019 showed a suspicious spot on her lung, later confirmed to be metastatic synovial sarcoma. Katie has fought every day since to keep the sarcoma at bay, completing more rounds of chemo, SBRT, wedge resections to both lungs and immunotherapy clinical trials, and has traveled to Nashville, St. Louis, and Houston to talk to sarcoma specialists.

A single mother of two, Wintergerst is Associate Manager of Non-Traditional Development at KFC in Louisville. Since her diagnosis, Wintergerst has been active with the SFA Race to Cure Sarcoma (RTCS) Louisville, serving as the event’s co-chair.  In addition, she has brought significant attention to sarcoma, SFA and the RTCS by participating in interviews with local media. Her enthusiastic support of SFA amidst her personal sarcoma journey is a testament to her strength and tenacity.