Why We’re Committing to Multi-Year Funding — and How We’re Moving Forward Together in 2026

nicole00549
Jan 30
3 min read

As we step into 2026, we want to share where STAAR Low-grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Foundation is headed — and why. This direction didn’t come from a single meeting or a single idea. It came from listening to patients, caregivers, researchers, and advocates who have told us, again and again, that real progress in LGSOC research takes time.

This year, STAAR is making a clear commitment to multi-year research funding, while also expanding the ways our community can get involved, lead, and connect. For us, this isn’t just about funding studies — it’s about staying with the work and with the people who are counting on it.

Why Multi-Year Funding Feels So Important

LGSOC is complicated. One-year grants often don’t give researchers enough time to fully understand what they’re seeing or to follow promising leads. Too often, good work has to pause just as it’s getting started.

Multi-year funding changes that. It gives researchers the time and stability they need to ask better questions, go deeper, and build on what they learn — instead of starting over. Most importantly, it helps ensure that patients aren’t left waiting while progress resets.

This is why multi-year funding matters so much to us — and why it will guide our work.

How We’re Powering This Work in 2026

We know this kind of commitment can’t happen without the community. In 2026, STAAR is leaning into community-powered fundraising — inviting people to support research in ways that feel personal and meaningful.

Fundraising Around Moments That Matter

We’ll be encouraging peer-to-peer fundraising tied to moments already important to our community, including:

Founders Day - February 10th
World Ovarian Cancer Awareness Day - May 8th
LGSOC Day & Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month - September 9th and all of September

These moments give us a chance to share stories, raise awareness, and invite others to support research that truly matters.

Celebrations, Birthdays, and Third-Party Fundraisers

We’ll continue to support:

Birthday fundraisers
Celebration-based fundraisers
Third-party events hosted by individuals, families, and community groups

Whether it’s a race, a pickleball event, a dinner with friends, or a personal milestone celebrated online, these efforts help turn everyday moments into real progress for LGSOC research. We will support you with tools for your success.

“Our goal is to remove any barriers to fundraising. With our new platform and ready-to-use toolkit, we’re making it simple for anyone to turn their personal story into meaningful impact.” ~Alyssa Toomes, Vice-Chair Fundraising

Staying Grounded in Patient Advocacy

STAAR will continue to serve as the LGSOC patient advocacy organization — working alongside researchers, pharmaceutical partners, and the broader medical community to make sure patient voices stay front and center.

Advocacy, for us, means listening carefully, asking hard questions, and speaking up when it matters. It also means helping connect patients to research, resources, and each other.

Listening First, Always

In 2026, listening remains a priority. We want to better understand:

What patients and caregivers need most right now
Where there are gaps in support or information
How STAAR can be most helpful moving forward

Your feedback helps shape our programs, partnerships, and priorities — and we’re committed to continuing those conversations.

A New Way to Support: Recurring Giving

This year, we’re introducing a recurring donation opportunity, The Teal Circle, for those who want to support STAAR on an ongoing basis.

Recurring gifts help provide steady support for multi-year research and allow STAAR to plan responsibly. We’ll also be offering special incentives and recognition as a thank-you to those who choose to give this way.

It’s a simple option — but one that makes a meaningful difference over time.

Stay Connected: Volunteer & Join Us

There are so many ways to be part of this work beyond donating.

In 2026, we invite more of our community to:

Volunteer in areas that match your skills and interests
Join our monthly Sips & Cellys gatherings — a space to connect, share, and build community

“What I would say to anyone on our journey, through STAAR you are not alone.” ~Carey Parsons, LGSOC Survivor and Sips & Cellys Host

Whether you’re newly diagnosed, a long-time advocate, a caregiver, or a supporter, there’s room for you here.

Looking Ahead — Together

Everything STAAR does is rooted in community. Patients, caregivers, researchers, volunteers, and donors all play a role in moving this work forward.

Multi-year funding is our way of saying we’re here for the long term — listening, learning, and staying committed until better options and outcomes are a reality for everyone affected by LGSOC.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

~Nicole Andrews, Chair