501(c)(3) Pending — EIN XX-XXXXXXXSarcoma-Specific Fund5-Day Application Review

Sarcoma is rare. Treatment centers are few. Distance shouldn’t decide who gets to fight.

Beat the Odds Sarcoma Fund provides direct travel grants — covering transportation, lodging, and fuel — so sarcoma patients can reach the specialized care they need, regardless of income.

1 in 10,000
Americans receive a sarcoma diagnosis each year
>50 mi
Average distance to a qualified sarcoma specialist
100%
Of grant funds go directly to patient travel costs
Who We Help

Sarcoma patients who need specialized care — but can’t afford to reach it.

Sarcoma is one of the rarest forms of cancer. Unlike more common malignancies, effective sarcoma treatment often requires multidisciplinary specialist teams that exist in only a handful of academic medical centers nationwide.

For many patients, that means leaving their community, their support systems — and facing costs that insurance rarely covers: gas, flights, hotels, meals during multi-day treatment stays. We exist to close that gap.

Read our story

Diagnosed Patients

Any histological subtype of sarcoma — bone, soft tissue, GIST, and others.

Remote Residents

Patients living more than 50 miles from an accredited sarcoma treatment center.

Active Treatment

Patients currently undergoing or initiating a treatment plan requiring specialist visits.

Financial Need

Applicants who can document that travel costs represent a genuine financial hardship.

Eligibility Snapshot

Do you qualify for a travel grant?

We’ve kept our eligibility criteria focused. If you check the three boxes below, we encourage you to apply — the process takes less than 15 minutes.

  1. 01Sarcoma Diagnosis

    You have been diagnosed with sarcoma — any subtype — by a licensed physician, confirmed by pathology.

  2. 02Travel Required

    Your treatment requires travel of 50 miles or more (one way) to reach the appropriate specialist or center.

  3. 03Financial Hardship

    The cost of travel represents a significant financial burden relative to your household income and existing obligations.

Apply for a Grant

No account required. Application takes ~15 minutes. We respond within 5 business days.

What expenses are covered?

Grants are paid directly to service providers — never as cash reimbursement — to ensure funds reach their intended purpose.

  • Airfare
    Economy flights booked directly through our account
  • Lodging
    Hotel stays near treatment center, paid to hotel
  • Fuel & Mileage
    For ground travel via personal vehicle
  • Ground Transport
    Rideshare, bus, or train to/from treatment

Not covered

Medical treatment costs, medications, meals, or non-travel living expenses. This fund is exclusively for travel-related barriers to accessing care.

How It Works

From application to travel in as little as one week.

We’ve designed the grant process to be as fast as possible — because treatment schedules don’t wait. Here’s exactly what happens after you submit.

~15 min

Submit Your Application

Complete our short online form — diagnosis info, specialist details, and travel dates. No physician referral required to apply.

1–5 days

Review & Verification

Our team verifies your diagnosis documentation and confirms the specialist center. We may contact you with questions.

By day 5

Grant Decision

You receive a written decision by email. Approved applicants receive a grant confirmation letter and next-steps instructions.

Days 5–7

Travel Booked

We coordinate directly with airlines, hotels, or rideshare services. You receive booking confirmations — no out-of-pocket cost.

This is not a loan. Grant funds are a gift — there is no repayment obligation. Grants are limited by available funding and awarded based on need. Applying does not guarantee approval, but every application is reviewed with equal care.

Frequently Asked

Common questions, answered.

If you don’t see your question here, reach out via our contact page — we respond within one business day.

Who qualifies for a Beat the Odds travel grant?
Any person diagnosed with sarcoma (bone or soft tissue, including GIST and rare subtypes) who requires travel of 50 or more miles to reach a specialist or accredited sarcoma center, and for whom that travel cost represents a financial hardship. We do not discriminate based on age, race, gender, insurance status, or treatment stage.
What travel expenses does the grant cover?
We cover airfare (economy class), hotel accommodations near the treatment center, ground transportation (rideshare, bus, train), and fuel/mileage reimbursement for personal vehicle travel. All payments go directly to service providers — we do not issue cash grants. Meals, non-travel lodging, medical bills, and medications are not covered.
How long does the review process take?
Our target is 5 business days from a complete application submission to a decision. In urgent cases where treatment is imminent, contact us directly and we will expedite review. Incomplete applications may require follow-up and extend the timeline.
How do I apply? What do I need to submit?
Click "Apply for a Grant" on this page or navigate to the Apply section. You will need: (1) a letter or documentation confirming your sarcoma diagnosis, (2) a referral or appointment confirmation showing the specialist center and travel distance, and (3) a brief statement of financial need. No physician co-signature is required to initiate an application.
Is this a loan? Do I have to pay it back?
No. This is a charitable grant — a gift with no repayment obligation whatsoever. Beat the Odds Sarcoma Fund is structured as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and grants are funded by charitable donations. The only thing we ask is that recipients let us know how the trip went, so we can share anonymized outcomes with donors.

Still have questions?

Contact Us

Ready to apply?

Don’t let distance be the reason you can’t fight.

If you or a loved one has sarcoma and needs to travel for treatment, we may be able to help. The application is free, fast, and carries no obligation.