Sarcoma Foundation NZ

28/05/2026

Meet Charlie 💛

Charlie has followed Cameron Suafoa's journey for years - watching him play for North Harbour, the Blues, the Māori All Blacks, and cheering him on every step of the way. Now Charlie wants to show up for Cam and our entire sarcoma community in the most Charlie way possible.

So he's shaving his head.

As his mum Nicole put it: "if you know Charlie and how proud he is of his blonde mop, it's a big deal."

Charlie is fundraising for the Sarcoma Foundation NZ through Givealittle, with every dollar going directly to support our community. In just 4 days 20 generous donors have already helped him raise $445 of his $500 goal - but let's help him smash it!

To donate, visit the link below or search Charlie's Sarcoma Foundation NZ Fundraiser on Givealittle.

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/charlies-sarcoma-foundation-nz-fundraiser

Thank you Charlie, you’re an absolute legend! 💛

25/05/2026

One of the outstanding questions from our Kōrero for Sarcoma Patient & Whānau Information Day 💛

“Are there any foods that may help reduce the risk of recurrence?”

Clinical Dietitian Caitlin Davenport shared some general healthy eating guidance around foods and dietary habits that may support overall health and wellbeing.

And one important reminder we loved from Caitlin:

“Food is not just about nourishment - it’s also about joy, connection and shared moments.” 💛

More to come from Caitlin's presentation at Kōrero for Sarcoma!

24/05/2026

A huge thank you to Dr Tiffany Brown for being part of our Kōrero for Sarcoma Patient & Whānau Information Day 💛

Tiffany brought such a grounded and supportive presence to the day. With experience across mental health services and supporting individuals and whānau through complex journeys, she shared not only her knowledge and tools as a Clinical Psychologist, but also took the time to support patients and whānau throughout the event and thoughtfully guide our afternoon panel discussions.

Some of the conversations shared throughout the day were really honest, emotional and vulnerable and Tiffany helped create a space where people felt safe and supported.

Thank you Tiffany for everything you brought to our sarcoma community 🎗️

13/05/2026

Kia ora e te whānau 💛

We are still feeling the warmth from our Kōrero for Sarcoma - Patient & Whānau Information and Networking Day. With around 50 of you coming through the door throughout the day, we just wanted to say a massive thank you.

To our incredible clinicians - thank you for showing up, sharing your knowledge and taking the time to answer every question our patients and whānau brought to the room. Your support meant so much to our community.

To everyone who stayed for lunch and found their people - we were so happy to see connections being made. So many of you told us the networking time was one of the most valuable parts of the day.

To our patient and whānau panel - you are the heart of this community. Hearing your real stories, advice and your lived experience was described by so many as the most powerful part of the day. Thank you for your courage and your generosity in sharing.

And to everyone who came through the door - whether you left with new knowledge, a new connection, or simply feeling a little less alone - that is exactly why we do this.

There is so much more to share from the day! We will be bringing that to you in the weeks to come, so stay tuned 💛

He waka eke noa - we’re all in this together🎗️

08/05/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our very first Patient & Whānau Information & Networking Day 💛

It was special to see our sarcoma community to come together to share, learn and connect!

More to come soon from the day, however in the meantime, we would really appreciate if attendees could complete our feedback form below.

Your feedback helps us understand how patients and whānau experienced the day, and how we can continue to grow and support our sarcoma community moving forward.

Thank you for joining us today. We would really appreciate your feedback to help us understand what was helpful, what could be improved, and how we can better support sarcoma patients and whānau in the future. This form is optional and can be completed anonymously.

06/05/2026

Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) sarcoma specific session on late effects and survivorship 💛

Being an adolescent or young adult when sarcoma enters your life is a different kind of hard.

Rangatahi have their own unique and unmet needs. They're different to children and adults and often fall into a no-man's land between the two. And when treatment ends, the world often expects you to just... move on. But for rangatahi, the journey doesn't stop there.

That's why we're excited to bring you this session, created with AYA sarcoma patients in mind. 🎗️

AYA Sarcoma: Late Effects and Survivorship

Dr Mandy de Silva - Paediatric/AYA Oncologist, Starship Blood and Cancer Centre

Olivia Grant - Clinical Nurse Specialist

Whether you're currently in treatment, post-treatment, or supporting someone you love - this session is for you. You don't have to figure out survivorship alone.

He waka eke noa - we're all in this together. 🎗️💛

05/05/2026

Kia ora e te whānau,

Our Kōrero for Sarcoma event is almost here! Here's everything you need to know before you join us:

(The final agenda is in the next slides of this post)

📍 Where: Clinical Education Centre, Level 5, Auckland City Hospital Head to the main entrance - the event will be signposted. A chill out space will also be available.

🕙 When: 10:00am – 3:00pm

🥪 Lunch: Sandwiches, quiches, fruit, soft drinks, tea & coffee all provided!

🚗 Getting here:
Car: Hospital Car Park A (gets busy - please allow extra time)
Alternatives: Wilson Car Park Grafton Oaks, Auckland Museum Carpark, or Parnell Road AT parks (2–3 hour limits on surrounding roads)
Train: Grafton Station is a 10-minute walk to the hospital

Our team will be there to welcome you all. We look forward to sharing this kōrero together. 💛

SFNZ Team 🎗️

05/05/2026

Auckland Radiology is proud to continue our partnership with Sarcoma Foundation NZ, supporting their vital work to improve outcomes for those affected by sarcoma in Aotearoa.

Sarcoma is a rare cancer that can affect people of any age, and early detection makes a real difference. As a radiology provider, we know how critical imaging is in identifying sarcoma early - and we're committed to playing our part in that journey.

Some important signs to be aware of:
- A lump larger than a golf ball, located deep to the fascia
- Persistent pain, swelling, or a lump in a limb - especially in children or young adults
- Any mass that is growing, painful, or causing night pain

If you or someone you know notices any of these symptoms, please speak to your GP or specialist. To learn more about the Sarcoma Foundation, visit: https://sarcoma.org.nz/

04/05/2026

Some of the most powerful kōrero this Friday won't just come from clinicians - it'll come from people who've lived it.

Our afternoon panels bring together patients and whānau who are sharing their stories openly and honestly, so others feel less alone in theirs.

Living with Sarcoma - Tom, Hayley, and Britt (whānau perspective), chaired by Dr Tiff Brown

Life After Sarcoma - Sara E, Ethyn, Sarah C, and Juan, chaired by Dr Tiff Brown

These are real conversations about what it means to live with sarcoma, and what life looks like on the other side of it.

We're so grateful to everyone who has said yes to sharing their story. Your mana and courage means everything to this community. 💛

Kōrero for Sarcoma | May 8th | Auckland Hospital

Register: https://forms.gle/XvoK7sDRMFXGfj637

03/05/2026

We are pleased to welcome these incredible clinicians to Kōrero for Sarcoma this Friday. 💛

Each morning session covers a topic that we know matters to our community - emotional wellbeing, nutrition, social supports, and physical rehabilitation.

Each session also includes dedicated Q&A time, so if any of these topics spark questions for you, we encourage you to start thinking about what you'd like to ask. No question is too big or too small.

Kōrero for Sarcoma | May 8th, 10am – 3pm | Auckland Hospital, CEC Level 5

Register now: https://forms.gle/XvoK7sDRMFXGfj637