Sara's Cancer Sucks Fundraiser

This is Sara Popp. Sara and her family are beloved members of the Los Osos and greater San Luis Obispo community. Sara is a wonderful neighbor, mother, and friend; always going above and beyond for others, which is why it was especially tragic when she suddenly fell ill in July of 2023. Sara was ultimately diagnosed with AML (acute myeloid leukemia) MLL subtype, which is a fancy way of saying a very rare kind of leukemia with rapid recurrence and poor prognosis.

Shortly after her diagnosis Sara underwent chemotherapy which proved ineffective. Now Sara's survival hinges on qualifying for a clinical trial at City of Hope, which will hopefully put her in remission long enough for a bone marrow transplant.

The financial strain of Sara's illness has been devastating to her family. Virtually at the same time as her diagnosis the family's housing situation changed, and layoffs in Sara's department at work have raised questions as to whether she will have a job to return to. With frequent trips to UCLA and City of Hope for treatments, hotel stays, gas, and food are quickly adding up. Though she has been working with a social worker, the Popps have yet to receive any EDD payments, further stretching their already tight finances.

It is no exaggeration to say that the Popps are in financial straights. Their needs are immediate. Besides cash donations Sara is in desperate need of the following items:

*A Laptop Computer -So that Sara can coordinate her doctors' appointments, manage finances, and communicate with her many social workers. (UPDATE 10/17: THIS NEED HAS BEEN FILLED! Thank you to Michelle Garner and Annette Sheely.)

*A Car- The household currently has one working car for their household of three. Sara needs to be able to reliably travel back and forth to LA while husband Chris uses the other car to get to work and to take their 12 year-old son to school. (EDIT 10/18-This need has been met! Thank you to the Greenlee family for the donation of their Camry and to Morin Brothers Automotive for the tune-up and new brakes!)

*New or Used Front Tires for a 2001 Camry.

*Gas Cards- To go to and from appointments & treatment

*UberEats- So Sara can have easy, healthy meals while on the road.

*Various comfort and necessary items on Sara's Amazon Wishlist, shared below in comments. 

Additionally, if Sara is accepted to the clinical trial she will need:

*Hotel Points/VRBO's in the Monrovia/Pasadena area.

Other needs include having someone familiar with solar panels install panels on the top of her RV in case she ends up having to live there for an extended period of time.

We will update this page regularly on Sara's progress. In the meantime this family needs love and financial support from our community. Please consider donating today, and please ask others to do the same.

Thank you,

-Team Sara