# The Life Raft Group

Source: https://onco.cc/institutions/life-raft-group/  
OnCo record `life-raft-group` (Institution). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

A US patient organisation for gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST), started online in 2000 by patients in the early imatinib trials, which supports patients and funds research.

## Summary

The Life Raft Group started in 2000, when a handful of patients in the early Gleevec (imatinib) trials began sharing their experiences online; many had been misdiagnosed with leiomyosarcoma before learning they had gastrointestinal stromal tumour, according to its mission page. It incorporated in June 2002 and became a 501(c)(3) non-profit in New Jersey on 10 June 2002. It provides research, education, advocacy and support for GIST patients regardless of their means, including help for patients in other countries to obtain GIST treatment. Its office is in Wayne, New Jersey.

## Fields

- Kind: Institution
- Last checked: 2026-11-04
- Also known as: Life Raft Group; LRG
- City: Wayne, NJ, US
- Type: consortium
- Website: https://liferaftgroup.org

## Sources

- The LRG mission and vision: https://liferaftgroup.org/the-lrg-mission-vision/
- IRS record (via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/820547746

## Connected records

- institutions: [GIST Support International](https://onco.cc/institutions/gist-support-international/), [Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network](https://onco.cc/institutions/sarcoma-patient-advocacy-global-network/)
- drugs: [Imatinib](https://onco.cc/drugs/imatinib/)
- cancers: [Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST)](https://onco.cc/cancers/gist/)

---
JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/life-raft-group.json