Our beautiful daughter, Sybil, loved to swim, ski, play with her friends, and run the family as the youngest of four children. In July 2023, while traveling in Europe, we noticed that her gait appeared slightly different. We took her to a hospital in Paris and discovered a large tumor in her brain stem, called DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.) 

We were devastated to learn that the long term survival rate for DIPG is near 0%. After a 6 month battle with DIPG, we lost Sybil on Monday, January 22, 2024. Our grief is immeasurable and as we think about her every day, we want to do all we can to avoid another family going through this.  

Cancer is the #1 cause of death by disease for children, brain cancer is the most lethal form, and DIPG is the most lethal form of brain cancer. Although DIPG accounts for half of all pediatric deaths from brain cancer, it affects less than 300 children a year. Given the small population base, it receives negligible funding from the biotech industry and the NIH.  

Please join us in supporting The Sybil Sugarman Memorial Fund, a campaign dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children battling DIPG. Chloé and Mark Sugarman will match donations up to $2.5 million. By contributing to this cause, you are directly impacting the future of pediatric cancer research and helping to fund groundbreaking initiatives that aim to find a cure. 

Every donation, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to a world where no child has to suffer from DIPG. Kindly consider a donation to The Sybil Sugarman Memorial Fund. All proceeds are tax-deductible. 

To give via credit card or PayPal, click the donate now button below. To give via wires, DAF distributions, stock gifts, and other complex assets, or if you have questions, please contact Andrea Henderson with The Marin Community Foundation (ahenderson@marincf.org).

Thank you for your support.