Rare Cancer Day is an international day of awareness spearheaded by the NORD Rare Cancer Coalition®. Held on September 30th each year, Rare Cancer Day shines a light on the rare cancer community and the unique challenges faced by rare cancer patients, caregivers, families, and researchers.
The NORD Rare Cancer Coalition is comprised of more than 30 rare cancer-focused advocacy organizations and was co-founded by TargetCancer Foundation’s CEO Jim Palma to build a unified voice around rare cancer advocacy. Jim remains Co-Chair of the Coalition, and TargetCancer Foundation is proud to be a founding member.
Rare Cancer Day Action Center
Explore the activities below for ways to get involved on Rare Cancer Day, and throughout the year!
Listen and Learn
We are pleased to announce the adoption of a bipartisan congressional resolution recognizing September 30, 2025 as Rare Cancer Day. TargetCancer Foundation is proud to be part of a working group that secured the adoption of this resolution, which aims to elevate awareness of rare cancers and the unique challenges faced by patients and researchers. We extend our gratitude to Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) for sponsoring this resolution, and for their continued advocacy and support of the rare cancer community.
Watch the recording from Paying With Our Lives: The Impact of Federal Funding Cuts on Rare Cancer Research, our 2025 Rare Cancer Day webinar.
Watch the recording of the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)’s Rare Cancer Day webinar, Biomarker Testing in Rare Cancers: From Barriers to Breakthroughs, featuring TCF CEO Jim Palma.
Explore the educational materials on our website, including clinical trials and biomarker testing.
Learn about TCF-001 TRACK, TCF’s patient-driven precision medicine clinical trial focused on all rare cancers.
Read the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Educational Handbook, “Designing Clinical Trials for Patients With Rare Cancers: Connecting the Zebras”. This resource was developed by TCF-001 TRACK Principal Investigator Dr. Razelle Kurzrock and Co-Principal Investigator Dr. Vivek Subbiah. TCF CEO Jim Palma also served as co-author on the publication. The handbook highlights the TRACK trial as an example of the power of advocacy-led trials in rare cancers.
Watch the first webinar in the 2025 Lunch & Learn series held in May 2025, The Power of Advocacy: Collective Strength Through the Rare Cancer Patient Voice. Four rare cancer patients and advocates who are making a powerful impact in the field discussed their personal experiences and insights regarding the importance of advocacy for awareness and progress in the treatment of rare cancers.
Listen to the inspiring story of patient advocate, author, and speaker Allen Chankowsky, told as the Patient Keynote at our 2024 Think Tank on Advancing Precision Medicine in Rare Cancers.
Webinar
Paying With Our Lives: The Impact of Federal Funding Cuts on Rare Cancer Research
Watch Patient Keynote
The Precision Patient: Seeking Out Innovative, Science-Based Therapy for Patients with Rare Cancers
Act
Make a donation to support TargetCancer Foundation and the work we do in support of rare cancer research and patients.
Share our Rare Cancer Day infographics with your networks, tagging @TargetCancer and using the hashtag #RareCancerDay.
Share your patient or caregiver story to help us collect 50 Stories From 50 States for our Paying With Our Lives advocacy campaign.
Provide our information sheet about TCF-001 TRACK to friends and family impacted by rare cancer.
Hold a fundraiser in your community or online in honor of Rare Cancer Day to benefit TCF.
Follow us, like, and share our posts on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Visit Cloztalk to buy TCF swag to start conversations about our work and help raise awareness.
