Beat the Odds Sarcoma Fund exists because one family learned firsthand that the distance to a specialist can be as dangerous as the diagnosis itself. We’re here to make sure geography never decides who gets to fight.
Sarcoma is one of the rarest forms of cancer, accounting for roughly 1% of all adult malignancies. Unlike breast or colon cancer — where oncologists exist in most mid-size cities — effective sarcoma treatment requires multidisciplinary teams with deep subspecialty experience. Those teams exist in only a handful of academic medical centers in the United States.
What that means in practice: a patient diagnosed in a rural area or a small city often has no local expert. Their best shot at the right diagnosis, the right surgical margin, the right chemo protocol — is hundreds of miles away. And insurance doesn’t cover the gas, the flights, or the hotel stays.
Beat the Odds Sarcoma Fund was founded by a family who lived that reality. We know what it feels like to weigh a plane ticket against a treatment decision. We started this fund so no one else has to make that calculation.
Fewer than 50 academic centers in the U.S. have dedicated sarcoma programs with full multidisciplinary teams.
For patients outside major metros, reaching the right specialist means days away from home — and thousands in uncovered costs.
We experienced this firsthand. The fund was built by people who understand the weight of these decisions at the worst possible time.
We focus exclusively on sarcoma patients — all subtypes — because this community is underserved and its needs are distinct.
We operate with a strict commitment: grant funds are never touched by administrative overhead. Our team is volunteer-run, and we pay vendors directly so patients never have to front costs and wait for reimbursement.
We book and pay airlines, hotels, and rideshare providers directly. No cash disbursements, no reimbursement delays, no out-of-pocket risk for the patient.
No paid staff means no administrative overhead drawn from grant funds. Every dollar donated to the travel fund reaches a patient.
Treatment schedules don't wait. We target a 5-business-day review cycle and expedite urgent cases when travel is imminent.
We publish how funds are allocated. Donors can see grant totals, patient count, and expenditure categories at any time.
When you support Beat the Odds, here’s exactly where it goes.
Beat the Odds Sarcoma Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (pending). EIN 41-4419409. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
These aren’t marketing values. They’re the operating rules we wrote before we accepted our first donation.
Patients shouldn't have to beg.
Our application is short, respectful, and asks only what we need to make a decision. We don't ask patients to share their story publicly, justify their illness, or prove they "deserve" help. A diagnosis and a travel distance is enough.
Fast decisions because time matters.
Cancer treatment doesn't wait for committee schedules. We review applications within 5 business days. In urgent cases where surgery or a first oncology appointment is imminent, we expedite. Bureaucracy kills momentum — we're designed to move fast.
Direct payment, visible accounting.
We pay vendors directly so funds can't be spent on anything other than travel. We maintain clear records of every grant and publish aggregate spending data. Donors deserve to see their money at work, and patients deserve to know we're accountable.
Beat the Odds Sarcoma Fund was started by a family in Spring Valley, California who experienced sarcoma care firsthand — the diagnosis, the specialist search, and the impossible logistics of getting to the right place at the right time.
We are not a large institution. We are a small, determined group of people who know exactly what this community needs — because we were part of it. Our full founding story will be shared here soon.
Founding Team
Founded by a family who experienced sarcoma care firsthand. Full story coming soon.
Interested in volunteering or partnering?
We welcome oncology social workers, patient advocates, and mission-aligned partners. Reach out and let’s talk.
Contact UsTake the next step
If you or a loved one has sarcoma and needs to travel for specialized treatment, we may be able to help. The application is free, takes about 15 minutes, and carries no obligation.