Our Promise

Our son, Jackson Hill, passed away September 13, 2005 ending a nineteen month battle with osteosarcoma. Jackson was a valiant fighter, from the initial diagnosis when he was only ten years old, until finally succumbing to this insidious disease at twelve years of age. Jackson's battle was one of multiple treatments and surgeries. He faced rounds of chemotherapy, limb salvage surgery, lung metastases, leg amputation, two lung surgeries, and drug trials. One of the most difficult and heart wrenching decisions Jackson had to make was allowing the surgeon to amputate his cancer ravaged leg, a devastating decision for someone of any age; yet at only 11 years old, Jackson agreed to this surgery. As his parents, we were constantly amazed at his ability to keep hoping for a cure, to keep believing in our ability to help the doctors fix him. The experiences of watching our child suffer, and the inability to help heal him was heartbreaking. My husband and I vowed, as Jackson grew weaker, we would do everything in our power to help other children and families avoid our fate.

The Cause

It is in tribute to Jackson, and the joy he found in cycling even while battling his illness, that Jackson's Ride the Gorge was founded in 2006.  This ride has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to bring awareness of the NW Sarcoma Foundation and their efforts to support sarcoma research, patient advocacy and education. In honor of Jackson's love of sport, and to raise money in his name, funds from Jackson's Ride the Gorge will be donated to the NW Sarcoma Foundation with the hope that their work will help children and families in their own battles against cancer.

The NW Sarcoma Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to providing education and support to patients and families who are living with this cancer. Additionally, we will create and actively participate in the direction of a national alliance with other sarcoma foundations and affiliated groups guiding a coalition among private and public concerns furthering research for a cure of sarcomas. We are devoted and single-minded in our purpose as a change agent in these very important regards.

Funding for sarcoma research has taken on a new urgency due to federal budget cuts in 2007. A majority of sarcoma research trials have been eliminated, with no promise of funding for future research. This leaves sarcoma patients with no good alternatives for quality care as many of the chemotherapy protocols simply do not work on sarcomas.
Read more >>

ABOUT SARCOMA

• Sarcoma is a cancer of the connective tissue (bone, cartilage, fat).
• Sarcoma represents 20% of childhood cancers yet receives only 1% of cancer research funds.
• Sarcomas strike people in all age ranges.
• Since these sarcoma tumors are more likely to undergo metastasis (spreading to distant sites), these tumors are treated more aggressively than other forms of cancer. They require a high grade of intensive treatment that may involve a combination of surgery and chemotherapy and possibly radiation.
• Because sarcoma is a high-grade cancer, it affects all aspects of an ill person's life, and his or her loved ones.