Here are some contributions from LRG members in the US for GIST Awareness Day 2020. GIST Awareness Day was created by the Life Raft Group in 2014 to bring awareness and public attention to gastrointestinal stromal tumors and raise funds for #GISTresearch.

GISTer MaKayla Evans posted:

MaKayla Evens help kick off our holiday campaign.Sometimes especially the last year, bringing awareness to my GIST Cancer journey feels like an overwhelming and daunting task. Though for years it felt like just a part of my everyday life.

This month on my 9 year anniversary (yes 9 YEARS!) of my Gastrointestinal Stromal tumor Cancer diagnosis, I’m learning to be grateful I have a platform (though small) to educate and ”hopefully” inspire others on my rare cancer and other rare illnesses is a privilege.

A privilege I often forget to value.

I speak up for those who have passed on and can no longer advocate for themselves and our community! I speak up for those who continue to fight often an invisible illness!

I speak up for me!

I may have cancer, but cancer doesn’t have me!

Here’s to my 9 years of survival and continued fight with cancer and MANY more years to go!

Happy GIST Cancer Awareness Day!!!

LRG member Sheila Estes shared:

On December 23, 2015 my brother, Roger Basham, succumbed to GIST cancer after a courageous five year battle.
Some of our family painted rocks and placed them along  the walking trail at a local recreational park for GIST Awareness Day.

GAD 2020

GAD 2020

GAD 2020

GAD 2020