Homework for July

By Suzie Siegel

We have until July 23 to collect signatures on our petition asking President Obama to proclaim July as Sarcoma Awareness Month. We are going to fall way short of the 100,000 we're supposed to get. But whatever we get will help the lobbyist who is working for free for the Sarcoma Foundation of America to catch the attention of the White House.

Click here to sign: http://wh.gov/i0o6U

We are grateful that the American Association of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Association for Clinical Research (AACR) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have recognized July as Sarcoma Awareness Month. They have been tweeting lots of information on sarcoma.

Without government recognition, we can't get some organizations to participate. For example, the American Cancer Society has nearly 50 awareness efforts on its calendar, but nothing about sarcoma. I can't even get any of its PR people to call me back. The next time you donate to ACS or participate in Relay for Life, please ask why they don't do anything to raise awareness about sarcoma.

Another way you can help the sarcoma community is by nominating a doctor, nurse, social worker or other health-care worker for an Outstanding Care Award. Doctors and scientists can win grants and awards for their research. But we want to spotlight those who go beyond technical expertise to show real respect and compassion to patients. Don't worry if you're not the best writer in the world.  Just write from the heart. For more information, go to: http://sarcomaalliance.org/news/outstanding-care-awards/