Advocacy in Action Award

Each year, the Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network (SPAGN) honors member groups who are driving innovation in patient advocacy through our Advocacy in Action Award.

✨ Submissions are now OPEN for 2025! ✨

In addition, in 2024, Ornella Gonzato from the Fondazione Paola Gonzato Rete Sarcoma ETS, Italy launched a special bone sarcoma award: the Paola Gonzato Memory Award.

Why These Awards Matter

Patient advocacy ensures that the patient voice is heard. It empowers people to take action, influence change, and address unmet medical needs.

The Advocacy in Action Award and the Paola Gonzato Memory Award both shine a spotlight on the tremendous impact of advocacy in sarcoma care – whether for patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, or the wider sarcoma community.

Both awards celebrate outstanding practices, projects, initiatives, or campaigns, as well as the dedicated advocates working behind them.

About the Advocacy in Action Award

All SPAGN member organizations are eligible to participate. Projects should be:

  • Sarcoma-specific (Soft Tissue, Bone, GIST, Desmoid, Chordoma)

  • Already completed or ongoing (not in the planning stage)

 

🏆 Awards granted (2026 edition):

  • 1st Prize: €2,000

  • 2nd Prize: €1,500

  • 3rd Prize: €1,000

 

📌 Selection process:
A committee of patient advocate leaders and sarcoma care experts evaluates all entries. Finalists present their projects at the SPAGN Annual Conference, where winners are announced at the special awards dinner.

👉 To apply, please review the guidelines on our website here, and download the application form here.

About the Paola Gonzato Memory Award

logo-retesarcoma-fondazione-ets

This special award invites SPAGN member organizations to submit impactful projects in the field of bone sarcomas.

Key Requirements:

  • Submissions must come from member organizations with regional or national reach.

  • Projects must be completed, evidence-based, and advocacy-driven.

  • Initiatives should show tangible outcomes in healthcare services or quality of life improvements for bone sarcoma patients.

  • Each organization may submit only one application.

🏅 AIAA Winners Through the Years

The Advocacy in Action Award has highlighted the creativity, dedication, and impact of sarcoma advocates worldwide. Explore past winners and their inspiring projects: