The Life Raft

The Life Raft Group (LRG) has a simple focus: to cure a form of cancer — GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumors) – and to help those living with it until then. Our mission is to ensure the survival of GIST patients through a comprehensive approach connecting individual patients’ needs, the worldwide community of GIST advocates and the global health and research environment. • To achieve this, the LRG funds and manages uniquely coordinated research initiatives that always keep the needs of the GIST patient foremost. The LRG is the only GIST advocacy organization with a dedicated research initiative led by a team of world renowned scientists and clinicians in GIST. • The Life Raft Group provides support and education to patients and caregivers living with GIST on an individual basis by providing one-on-one counseling sessions, local in-person meetings, and a biennial meeting gathering the patient, pharmaceutical community and medical professionals together in a supportive and educational setting. The LRG also offers education to the GIST community through videos, webinars, Days of Learning, GIST specialist database, GIST-specific clinical trials database, newsletters, etc. • The LRG is an active presence in effecting change within the GIST community. Advocacy roles ranges from helping patients with treatment access issues on a one-on-one basis, creating regional groups in underserved areas, and reporting on trends in treatment and survival to the world.