Mission

Our purpose is to identify and support cutting-edge research aimed at finding a cure for Ewing's Sarcoma and other forms of pediatric bone cancer. In targeting such rare and underfunded childhood and adolescent diseases, our contributions can transform the field and have a significant impact on the lives and life chances of affected children.  The Sunbeam Foundation is an all-volunteer organization.  All contributions go directly to the fight against childhood bone cancers.  

Our Story

The Sunbeam Foundation was established in 2005 with the aim of spreading hope and finding a cure for rare and underfunded childhood bone cancers. The Sunbeam Foundation's origins, however, can be traced back five years earlier, when singer-songwriter Brad Wolfe's life path was forever altered by unexpected tragedy. It was in May of 2001, while Brad was a junior at Stanford University and planning a career in academia, that one of his best girl friends since high school, Sara LaBoskey, confided to him that she had been diagnosed with a rare and often deadly form of pediatric bone cancer called Ewing's sarcoma. Upon hearing this news, Brad committed himself to helping Sara in her difficult fight. He turned to his "closet" hobby of songwriting and penned a song of hope for her. One night, Brad gathered a group of Sara's friends together at his parent's house and surprised Sara with his new composition, "Sara's Got a Sunbeam." The song became an anthem during Sara's illness and, for that evening, feelings of love and friendship overshadowed the heartache of Sara's disease.

As Sara's condition worsened and she became bedridden, Brad visited Sara in the hospital frequently. On one occasion, Brad brought his guitar and, at Sara's request, performed a bedside concert of his original songs. As Brad played, Sara's spirits markedly improved. For those few moments, her pain actually seemed to diminish. Brad was grateful and was struck that music had the power to make a difference in Sara's life. Thereafter, bedside concerts became a regular scene at the hospital.

Sara passed away on July 28, 2002 at the age of 21. Her fight against Ewing's sarcoma was difficult, yet it was also inspiring. Sara's unwavering optimism and her love of life moved not only Brad, but all those who knew her. In Sara's memory, Brad decided to pursue a new life path: he made a commitment to share his music with the world and to use his talent to make a difference in the lives of young people like Sara who are engaged in a fight against cancer.

With newfound inspiration, Brad put together a talented five-piece band collectively known as Brad Wolfe and the Moon, recorded an album, and started thinking about a way he could use album proceeds to benefit young adults, like Sara, faced with pediatric cancer. When he shockingly discovered that there were no strong fundraising organizations that dealt specifically with Ewing's sarcoma and other rare pediatric cancers, Brad conceived of the idea for the Sunbeam Foundation, named after the song he had written for Sara. Along with the support of Sara's family and large number of close friends, the Sunbeam Foundation began working toward its goal of spreading hope and finding a cure for pediatric bone cancer.

"Sara’s got a sunbeam in the palm of her hand.  Sara’s got a sunbeam and she shines it everywhere she can. She’s gonna be a doctor—she knows all of the facts. But there ain’t no better medicine than the way she laughs. And in the way that she walks, in the way that she talks, when Sara drinks water through a bendable straw—mostly polished, a little bit raw.  Simple yet beautiful. Simply beautiful.  

You might bend but you won’t break. You are strong. You can take it. You might bend, but you will not break. They bend your light, but it still shines. Behind the clouds the sun is still in the sky.  And if you cry, I don’t mind, it’s alright, you are strong you are able.  Sara’s got a sunbeam...unfadeable.  

She eats honey nut cheerios and goes on afternoon time runs. But when she runs she don’t run away—she takes life as it comes.  She loves orangutans and soccer games. She knows each word to the song that’s playing. Look in her eyes to hear what she’s saying—silent yet so strong. Silently strong. And if you need to talk to me, I’ll be there for you.  But please don’t thank me. I’m just glad to stand beside your glow."

Music/Lyrics by Brad Wolfe