As we count down to Giving Tuesday, we’re celebrating Pie for My Why, MIB Agents’ new community-wide campaign inspired by OsteoWarrior Wren and her family’s incredible Pie Hard fundraiser. Our goal is to raise $30,000 and unlock 30 pies in 30 days, with volunteer Pie-Ticipants ready to take a pie to the face for every $1,000 raised. We’re also spotlighting the Huffman family and Wren’s story, sharing how you can Round Up for MIB at Walmart, looking ahead to TURBO next week, and opening abstract submissions for FACTOR 2027. Plus, we’re sharing How to Live While Dying: A Memoir of Alex Etheridge, written by Alex’s dad, Brian Etheridge, about Alex’s journey with osteosarcoma. Read on to find out how you can join the fun, share your Why, and help MIB Agents Make It Better for the osteosarcoma community this month.
With hope,
The MIB Agents Team
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We're counting down to Giving Tuesday, one whipped cream pie at a time!
Inspired by OsteoWarrior Wren and her family's incredible Pie Hard fundraiser, MIB Agents is launching Pie for My Why, a fun and meaningful way to raise awareness and funds for the osteosarcoma community.
Our goal? 30 pies in 30 days to raise $30,000! Every $1,000 raised unlocks another pie with our volunteer Pie-Ticipants ready to get pied for a great cause as we count down to Giving Tuesday on December 1!
Join the fun by making a donation, sharing your Why, or challenging someone to take a pie to the face for a great cause. Every gift helps MIB Agents Make It Better through family support, advocacy, and research.
Donate. Share Your Why. Help Unlock the Next Pie!
When Wren was diagnosed with osteosarcoma at just five years old, her family found support, knowledge, and connection through the MIB community. What started as a simple way to bring laughter to Wren during treatment grew into Pie Hard, a family-led campaign raising awareness and funds for osteosarcoma research.
Now, that same spirit is inspiring MIB's community-wide Pie for My Why Giving Tuesday campaign. In this week's spotlight, the Huffman family shares how Pie Hard began and why they're turning moments of joy into meaningful change for children and families facing osteosarcoma.
Plus, watch Jim Huffman take on Shark Tank TONIGHT at 10:00 PM on ABC!
In How to Live While Dying: A Memoir of Alex Etheridge, Alex's dad, Brian Etheridge, shares their family's journey through Alex's osteosarcoma diagnosis and the lessons of living fully through life's most difficult challenges. Even through the pain and uncertainty of cancer treatment, Alex inspires those around him to find happiness, pursue their dreams, and never give up. Together, Alex and his family face difficult medical decisions and setbacks while making precious memories, celebrating milestones, and embracing life's adventures.
Purchase your copy today on Kindle, hardcover, or paperback.
Did you know you can Make It Better while shopping at Walmart?
Through Walmart Spark Good Round Up, you can round up your online purchases to the nearest dollar and donate the spare change to MIB Agents. Every gift helps us Make It Better through family support, advocacy, and osteosarcoma research.
It's easy to get started:
1. Sign in to your account at Walmart.com.
2. Search for and select MIB Agents as your preferred charity through Spark Good.
3. Choose to round up your eligible purchases at checkout.
Thank you for using your powers for good!
If you have a job posting and you would like it included here, please email kat@mibagents.org.
Our next meeting is November 11th at 5pm ET.
If you’re managing a patient with relapsed osteosarcoma and want additional perspectives on treatment strategies or clinical trial options, consider presenting the case at MIB Agents TURBO (Tumor Review Board for Osteosarcoma).
TURBO meets via Zoom every two months, bringing together a global panel of osteosarcoma experts to review complex cases, exchange insights, and discuss emerging data. It’s a collegial, multidisciplinary forum designed to support clinical decision-making for challenging cases. This educational forum is for medical professionals only; patients and families are welcome to ask their oncologists to present a case on their behalf.
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An overview of the OstEvo Clinical Trial (NCT07477457)
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Advancing translational liquid biopsy platforms to support early detection of metastasis in osteosarcoma
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An overview of Pediatric Moonshot - How AI can reduce inequities in pediatric cancer care and help end the disease
Have a compelling topic to share with the osteosarcoma community? We want to hear about it!
Now accepting abstract submissions for FACTOR 2027!
Abstract submissions are due online at Proposal Central on January 8, 2027.
Abstracts will be considered for oral presentation or poster presentation at FACTOR 2027. For more details on eligibility and the application process, please see the FACTOR 2027 Abstract Submission guidelines. Please email kat@mibagents.org with any questions.
FACTOR 2027 Abstract Submission Guidelines
The SIOP-NA Scientific Committee would like to invite you/your institution to participate in the first multi-institutional retrospective study among SIOP-NA: “MOSAIC: Molecular and Clinicopathologic Observations of Rare Pediatric Sarcomas in a Multi-Institutional Cohort”.
This multi-institutional retrospective study will characterize the clinical presentation, histopathology, molecular/genomic testing results (when available), treatment patterns, and outcomes of pediatric and AYA patients (0 - 39 years) diagnosed between 2015–2025 with rare sarcomas, fibroblastic tumors, and other mesenchymal tumors, excluding common sarcoma entities such as RMS, EWS, OS, SS, MPNST and DSRCT. Participating sites will obtain local IRB approval, perform chart abstraction, and share de-identified data under a Data Usage Agreement (DUA), using a centralized REDCap database. Each of the site primary investigators will contribute to and be acknowledged as co-authors on any resulting publications, following ICMJE authorship guidelines.
If you or someone at your institution are interested in participating, please email rsaab@stanford.edu for more details and information.
Our sponsors Make It Better by making our programs possible. This November, we're proud to highlight:
💌 Thank you to the Moore Family for sponsoring Warrior Mail!
🧬 Thank you to Exelixis for sponsoring TURBO!
🧑🔬 Thank you to MedPacto for sponsoring JAB and NextGen Conference Attendance!
The opportunity to sponsor our 2026 programs has not closed yet!
We are currently in search of sponsors for our patient programs so they can finish this year strong.
🎮 Gamer Agents ($3,000 sponsor level): Bring OsteoWarriors and OsteoSiblings together through a private online gaming network, moderated by trained Lead Gamer Agents who foster connection and friendship across time zones.
🙏 Prayer Agents ($4,000 sponsor level): Bring comfort and connection to the MIB Agents community through monthly prayers and intentions shared on the first Sunday of each month, honoring a variety of spiritual practices.
💛 Ambassador Agents ($4,000 sponsor level): Connect current OsteoWarriors and their families with trained osteosarcoma survivors and their families through meaningful peer support, welcome gifts, and shared understanding. In 2027, sponsorship will help bring Ambassador Agent training to the Twin Cities ahead of FACTOR and communities nationwide throughout the year.
Help us Make these programs Better! Email hannah@mibagents.org today.
