Sarcoma Foundation Newsletter

What’s New?

It’s been a busy time since our last update, and we’re excited to share what’s been happening across the sarcoma community, as well as what’s coming up in the months ahead.

What’s Happened?

Our annual fundraiser at Round the Bays took place in March - and what an incredible day it was! We were proud to see patients, whānau, and clinicians from across the country come together to raise funds and awareness for sarcoma.

A special shoutout to Vanessa and Adorabella from the North Island Sarcoma Service for running a top-notch sausage sizzle to refuel our runners, and to Janice Barrett, who generously offered post-run massages on the day - thank you!

We’d also like to acknowledge Marley (13), our youngest runner, and Mollie, who took a break from chemotherapy to attend. 💛

Our ambassador Cameron Suafoa flew back from a Blues game to meet our team at the finish line, joined by a fantastic turnout of his family and friends joining in support.

Together, we raised $14,952, and more importantly, connected with so many incredible people. We couldn’t have done it without you - ngā mihi nui!

Webinar Series

Since our last newsletter, we’ve hosted three informative webinars covering:

• Retroperitoneal sarcoma

• Desmoid fibromatosis

• Surgical management of bone sarcomas

Up next, we’re excited to welcome Dr Karen Billington (North Island Sarcoma Service & Auckland Radiology Group), who will walk us through the role of imaging and biopsy in sarcoma diagnosis.

Missed the live sessions? You can watch them anytime on our YouTube Channel

Auckland Radiology Group – New Sponsor

We’re excited to welcome Auckland Radiology Group as a new sponsor of the Sarcoma Foundation NZ. Their support helps us continue to maintain our website and develop resources for patients and whānau.

A big thank you to the entire ARG team for your generosity and ongoing support!

Raising Awareness

Our Chair, Andy Johnston, has been busy spreading the word about sarcoma. He recently spoke at Podiatry NZ and the Goodfellow Symposium, and will be presenting in May at the Australia New Zealand Musculoskeletal Radiology Group.

We’re also preparing for Sarcoma Awareness Month this July - stay tuned for ways to get involved.

Captains Run – A Special Day at Eden Park

Thanks to our ambassador Cam Suafoa and the Blues Rugby team, a group of young patients and their whānau attended the Blues’ Captains Run ahead of their match against Moana Pasifika.

They were supported on the day by nurse specialists Zoe Turner and Vanessa Hurley from the North Island Sarcoma Service. A huge thank you to Cam and the Blues for making it such a memorable day!

What’s Coming Up?

Consumer Engagement & Fundraising Sub-Committee

This year we’ll be forming a Consumer Advisory and Fundraising Sub-Committee to help guide the Foundation's work. This group will help shape future events and ensure we’re listening to what matters most to those affected by sarcoma.

Local Support Groups

We know how valuable local support can be. In 2025, we’ll begin working toward establishing Sarcoma Foundation-backed support groups, led by community volunteers. If you’re interested in helping, we’d love to hear from you!

National Sarcoma Care Guidelines

While not directly involved, we’re supportive of the upcoming Optimised Clinical Care Pathways (OCCP) and Model of Care (MOC) documents being released by Te Aho o Te Kahu | Cancer Control Agency.

These guidelines reflect the voices of our community, with contributions from many members of our board and the wider sarcoma sector. We’re hopeful they will lead to improved care and outcomes for people across Aotearoa.

That’s all for now

Thank you for being part of our community.
We’re in this together, and every step forward is thanks to people like you.

Ngā manaakitanga,
The Sarcoma Foundation NZ Team