Why Sarcoma?
Courage Ride is dedicated to the memory of Seth Bailey, son of our founders Tom and Jackie Bailey. Seth was diagnosed with soft-tissue synovial sarcoma cancer and after a courageous battle Seth passed away in 2003. Since 2005 the Courage Ride has been focused on raising funds and awareness for this rare form of cancer.
There are two types of sarcomas: soft tissue and bone. Soft tissue sarcomas are found in the soft tissues of the body (muscle, fat, blood vessels, nerves, joints, etc). Some soft tissue sarcomas are more commonly found in children while other types are more commonly found in adults. Kaposi’s sarcoma and Rhabdomyosarcoma are both types of soft tissue sarcomas. Early-stage soft tissue sarcoma might not show any symptoms but as the tumor grows, a lump, swelling, or possibly pain could arise.
Bone sarcomas are rare and are found in the bone - most commonly longer bones such as those found in limbs. Like soft tissue sarcoma, some bone sarcomas are more common in children and other types are more common in adults. Three of the most common sub-types of bone sarcomas are Chondrosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, and Osteosarcoma. Common symptoms include bone pain, broken bones, and tenderness in the affected area.
Learn more at: https://cancer.uiowa.edu/cancer-types/sarcoma
How can you help?
When you or a loved one is diagnosed with a life-threatening condition such as cancer, you may find yourself wanting to help those who are also affected. There are many ways you can make a difference for those affected by cancer.
VOLUNTEER
Working with organizations, such as the Courage Ride, is a great way to make a positive impact on the lives of those affected by cancer.
SUPPORT RESEARCH
All proceeds from the Courage Ride go to the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Sarcoma Research Program. Since the first ride in 2005, Courage Ride has raised over $865,000 for sarcoma cancer research. To date, Courage Ride proceeds have seeded numerous sarcoma cancer related research grants. Many of those grants have evolved into promising, larger scale research studies. The Courage Ride has provided sustainable and predictable support for the tumor bank and cancer research for over a decade, creating a lot of enthusiasm. The results are leading to new advancements, new partnerships and attracting some of the best research talent in the nation. Patient lives are being made better as a result of these research studies.
Courage Ride’s significance is underscored by the fact that funding for cancer research has been shrinking, according to the American Association for Cancer Research. Yet cancer remains one of the nation’s costliest diseases. The American Cancer Society’s 2024 estimates for soft tissue sarcomas in the United States (these statistics include both adults and children) project that 13,590 new soft tissue sarcomas will be diagnosed (7,700 cases in males and 5,890 cases in females) and 5,200 people (2,7640 males and 2,440 females) are expected to die of soft tissue sarcomas. Over 100 adults and children in Iowa are diagnosed with sarcoma each year. Sarcoma receives 1 to 2 percent of all cancer research funding. Given that sarcoma is rare and a low proportion of funding is dedicated to sarcoma research, much of the discovery and research in sarcoma has to come from philanthropic efforts like Courage Ride.
GET INVOLVED
There are so many events developed by those touched by cancer, and we are happy to count the Courage Ride among them. Participate or get involved in helping to organize the Courage Ride. It is a great way to support others and to meet other survivors!
