Sarcoma Stomp raises money for research to find cure for rare cancers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hundreds of people laced up their sneakers and raced and helped raise money to find a cure for rare cancers in Charlotte.

[IMAGES: 2018 Sarcoma Stomp 5K Run and 3K Walk]

Saturday's seventh annual Sarcoma Stomp, hosted by Channel 9 chief meteorologist Steve Udelson, whose brother-in-law died from the disease, assisted in helping families of people with rare cancers.

[LINK: About Sarcoma Stomp]

The 5k run, 3k walk started at Christ Lutheran Church on Providence Road in Charlotte.

Eyewitness News anchor Brittney Johnson learned about the need for more research to save lives.

The pain Lt. Joe Johnson, of the Rock Hill Police Department, thought was a torn rotator cuff turned out to be sarcoma.

“I developed a pain in my shoulder,” Johnson said. “It was heartbreaking. Obviously, you have a lot of things run through your mind, like, "'What’s next?'"

Johnson said his doctors had several meetings and a lot of questions about how to treat his rare sarcoma.

“They just basically said they weren't sure there was not a lot of research out there for this,” Johnson said. “All I could think about was my daughter.”

Sarcoma is a rare cancer found in connective tissue. Roughly 15,000 people are diagnosed each year, and half of those won’t survive more than five years.

Robert Sandee, who has been treated for the disease since 2016, said he was in a clinical trial at Levine Cancer Institute, funded by the Paula Tackas Foundation, which partners with Levine to fund research and clinical trials.

“I went into surgery and they took out a 6.9-pound sarcoma,” Sandee said.

Prior to Saturday, the foundation has raised more than $860,000.

Its main event, the Sarcoma Stomp, brought out a record 1,200 people in 2017.

“It helps fund the research, and whether it's for me or for somebody else,” Sandee said. “I think it’s very important.”

“Without the research, without the funding, obviously I would not be here,” Johnson said.

Organizers were hopeful they'd hit a million dollars this year.

“When people get cancer, they don’t get the luxury of choosing the type of cancer they get,” said Susan Udelson, executive director of the Sarcoma Stomp. “When you get rare cancer, there is not as many treatments, so private philanthropy is critical.”

Cox Media Group