The Paula Takacs Foundation for Sarcoma Research

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The Paula Takacs Foundation for Sarcoma Research

We fund sarcoma research, amplify awareness and nurture community. Please visit us at SarcomaIsCancer.org & GrowingHopeThroughArt.org

The mission of the Paula Takacs Foundation for Sarcoma Research is to raise funds for local research, and amplify awareness, accelerating the fight to eradicate sarcoma cancers. Through these endeavors, we open both local and global pathways for the development of new sarcoma treatments and increase the speed of accurate diagnoses. Paula and Geoffrey Takacs founded the Paula Takacs Foundation for

Sarcoma Research in 2010 to fund research and raise awareness for this rare and complex cancer. Paula passed away from sarcoma in April, 2014. It is her legacy that we proudly carry today. To date, the Paula Takacs Foundation has raised almost $4 million for pediatric and adult sarcoma research. The annual Sarcoma Stomp walk/run is the signature event of the Paula Takacs Foundation for Sarcoma Research held each April. Learn more at sarcomastomp.org. Our Growing Hope Through Art program, raising funds and awareness of sarcoma through permanent art installations, furthers our impact while telling beautiful stories of hope and courage in communities. Seasons of Life, an 18-foot blown glass art installation, will be installed in 2024 at Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte, NC. Learn more and donate at growinghopethroughart.org. Visit paulatakacsfoundation.org to learn more, find sarcoma resources, opt in to our periodic newsletters, and to get involved. We need you to accelerate the discovery of sarcoma cures. Sarcoma is a cancer of the connective tissue, such as bones, muscles, nerves, fat, cartilage, tendons, and blood vessels. Sarcomas comprise less than 1% of adult cancers and about 15-20% of pediatric cancers. Approximately one-half of bone sarcomas and about one-fifth of soft tissue sarcomas are diagnosed in people under the age of 35. The overall relative 5-year survival rate of people with sarcomas is around 50%, a statistic that has not changed in almost five decades. To learn more about sarcomas, please visit www.sarcomaiscancer.org.

04/20/2026

✨Sarcoma Stomp Team Awards ✨

We are incredibly grateful for every single team that showed up, moved, and made an impact in honor of sarcoma awareness and research. We’d especially like to highlight three of our top fundraising teams who truly went above and beyond in supporting our mission so we can continue to fund critical research and make a difference.

🏆 Top Fundraising Teams
1st Place: Paula’s Peeps are Back in Towne – $30,100
2nd Place: Heather’s Heroes – $23,668
3rd Place: Annie’s Army – $17,726

👏 Rookie Team Award: Team CRVA
They brought the second largest team with 57 participants and this was only their first year participating at the Stomp. What an incredible debut!

🎉 Team Spirit Award: HNincredibles
They brought the energy all day long with tie-dye shirts, a fun tent setup, and nonstop enthusiasm that made them impossible to miss.

Every team, runner, walker, volunteer, and supporter helped make this year’s Stomp so meaningful. We are beyond grateful for this community and the impact you continue to create together for sarcoma research and awareness.

Thank you for showing up, standing out, and stomping with heart. 🎗

04/16/2026

We are still feeling the impact of this year’s Sarcoma Stomp 💛

Because of YOU, this year’s Sarcoma Stomp was incredible:
• $285,000+ raised (our 2nd highest ever!)
• 900+ participants
• 50+ teams
• 45 amazing volunteers

Every step, every donation, every shared story is helping move our mission forward and bring hope to those affected by sarcoma.

📸 Relive the day: https://icandeephotography.shootproof.com/sarcomastomp2026
🔒 Password: sarcoma2026

Thank you for being part of something so meaningful.

04/11/2026

It’s Stomp Day! 🎗️👟

Today is about more than a race—it’s about coming together to fund research, support families, and bring hope to those impacted by sarcoma. 💛

📍 Location: Christ Lutheran Church - 4519 Providence Rd
⏰ Packet Pickup: 6:30a - 7:45a
🎤 Opening Ceremony: 7:35a
🏃‍♀️ 5k Run & 3k Walk: 8:00a

👟 Registration is still open! Join us and be part of the impact.
💛 Can’t make it? You can still help move research forward with a donation.

🔗 Full details, registration & donation link: https://runsignup.com/Race/TheSarcomaStomp/Page/Event-Day-Instructions

04/10/2026

We’re almost there… help us cross the finish line! 💛

On the eve of the Sarcoma Stomp, we’re so close to our goal of $225,000—and we need your help to get us there.

If you’ve been meaning to give, now is the moment. Every dollar brings us closer to advancing research, supporting patients, and honoring those impacted by sarcoma.

Can’t join us tomorrow? You can still be part of something meaningful by making a donation today.

✨ Let’s finish strong—together.
👉 Donate here: runsignup.com/Race/Donate/NC/Charlotte/TheSarcomaStomp

Thank you for being part of this incredible community. 💛

04/09/2026

Pre-Race Packet Pickup 👟

Skip the race day lines and join us Friday for a quick, stress-free start to your Saturday!

📍 Christ Lutheran Church (Worship Center Lobby)
🗓 Friday, April 10 | 3:00–6:00 PM

Race day pickup will also be available from 6:30–7:45 AM—please allow extra time for parking and lines.

✨ Still want to join us? There’s time! Registration will be available at packet pickup on Friday and on race morning. 👉 Register here: bit.ly/Stomp2026

Grab your race shirt & bib early—we’ll see you Friday! 💛

04/08/2026

There’s still time to join us! 💛

Be part of the Sarcoma Stomp this weekend!

📍 In the Charlotte area? Come join us in person and be part of an incredible community.
🌎 Traveling or can’t make it in person? Sign up for our virtual option and participate from wherever you are.

Can’t join us on race day? You can still make an impact by making a donation to help us reach our goal.

👉 Register or donate here: bit.ly/Stomp2026

Every step, every registration, and every gift makes a difference. We’d love to have you with us! 💛

04/07/2026

Don’t forget to bring your photo to the Stomp 📸

Our Tribute Wall is a special space to honor survivors, remember those we’ve lost, and uplift those still navigating their sarcoma journey.

Bring a 4”x6” photo, or leave a message of love, strength, and remembrance using the materials provided on-site.

📍 Visit Stop #4 on the site map to add your tribute: runsignup.com/Race/TheSarcomaStomp/Page/Stomp-Map-2026

04/06/2026

It’s Race Week! 🎉

Participant info is live on our site—packet pickup, schedule, site map, parking, raffle tickets, awards info, and more! Check it out here: https://runsignup.com/Race/TheSarcomaStomp/Page/Event-Day-Instructions

Questions? Message us or reach out to our Events Manager, Justine Conner, at Justine@paulatakacsfoundation.org

We can’t wait to see you in just 5 days! 💛🏃‍♀️

04/04/2026

ONE WEEK TO GO! 💛👟 We can’t wait to see our incredible community come together in just 7 days!

From our amazing teams to the families and supporters behind them—your energy and passion are what make this event so special.

There’s still time to get involved: bit.ly/Stomp2026
👟 Join us in person or from afar
🎗️ Volunteer
💛 Make a donation

Sarcoma is a rare cancer that doesn’t get the attention it deserves—but together, we are changing that. Every step and every dollar raised helps fund critical research for better treatments, earlier diagnoses, and one day, a cure.

However you choose to support, YOU are making a difference.

🎗️💛

04/02/2026

💛 Honoring Meredith’s Legacy at the 2026 Sarcoma Stomp 💛

We are honored to highlight the incredible courage and legacy of Meredith Yanes through two inspiring teams: Meredith’s Legacy and Team CRVA

Team CRVA has created a corporate team in her honor, inviting her former colleagues to participate—and they’ve already rallied 49 participants! Meanwhile, Meredith’s Legacy, started by Meredith herself, will be carried on by her sister Meredith Cox and husband Edwin Yanes, with 13 participants joining in her memory.

Edwin shares:
"Meredith showed us what true determination, strength, and kindness look like, even while facing UPS Sarcoma with incredible courage. She never let her diagnosis define her. Instead, she continued to show up with a full heart, a smile, and an unwavering spirit. Last year, she proudly joined the Sarcoma Stomp, and it brought her so much joy to be part of something bigger than herself. This year, we have the chance to come together, celebrate Meredith’s legacy, and keep that positive momentum going in her honor."

Whether you’re walking to support a survivor, honoring the memory of a loved one, or simply championing the cause, every registration, every step, and every donation matters.

Join us at the Stomp: bit.ly/Stomp2026

04/01/2026

Bring a Photo to the Sarcoma Stomp to Commemorate a Loved One💛

We’re thrilled to bring back the Tribute Wall at this year’s Sarcoma Stomp—a special space to honor survivors, remember those we’ve lost, and uplift those still fighting.

📸 How to participate:
Bring a 4”x6” photo (or smaller) of your loved one
Or share a message of love, strength, and remembrance using the materials provided

Together, let’s celebrate, remember, and support everyone impacted by sarcoma. 💛

03/30/2026

Address

Turtleback Ridge
Weddington, NC
28104

Telephone

+17045165113

Website

https://www.paulatakacsfoundation.org/, https://linktr.ee/paulatakacsfoundation

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Our Story

Paula and Geof Takacs founded the Paula Takacs Foundation for Sarcoma Research in 2010 to fund clinical research and raise awareness for this rare and complex universe of cancers. Paula lost her life to liposarcoma in April, 2014. It is her legacy that we carry on today. To date, the Paula Takacs Foundation has donated over $1.4 million for sarcoma research through its signature fundraiser, The Sarcoma Stomp, and other fundraising events. The Sarcoma Stomp is one of the largest and most successful sarcoma run/walks in the United States, raising over $250,000 with 1,500 participants in 2019!

Since 2012 our philanthropy has funded the sarcoma research program at Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte, NC, helping to offer novel treatments and improve the lives of both adults and children suffering from sarcomas. The Paula Takacs Foundation is currently funding a blood vs. tumor biopsy study (an adjunct study to the sarcoma clinical trial we helped fund at Levine Cancer Institute and Levine Children’s Hospital from 2017-2019), as well as research studies in osteosarcoma and synovial sarcoma. There will also be a new clinical trial funded at Levine Cancer Institute pending approval. To learn more about these projects, please visit https://www.paulatakacsfoundation.org/about-us/our-partner/.

Sarcoma is a cancer of the connective tissue, such as bones, muscles, nerves, fat, cartilage, tendons, and blood vessels. Sarcomas comprise less than 1% of adult cancers, but about 15% of pediatric cancers. Approximately one-half of bone sarcomas and about one-fifth of soft tissue sarcomas are diagnosed in people under the age of 35. The overall relative 5-year survival rate of people with soft tissue sarcomas is around 50%, a statistic that has not changed in many decades.