Not a doctor. Not a therapist. Cole’s Mom.
The DSRCT Initiative
Hope Always in the fight against DSRCT
“Hope Always” was born during my son Cole’s courageous nearly 9 year battle with DSRCT. Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor (DSRCT) is an aggressive cancer that often strikes children and young adults without warning, leaving families to navigate a devastating diagnosis with little hope offered. Since Cole’s passing at age 14, I have worked to help other families find Hope Always in their own fight. The DSRCT Initiative was founded to be a bridge connecting all in the fight against DSRCT, and to help families access useful resources and support.
Wherever you are in this journey, you belong here, and I’m so sorry it was not here sooner.
Mission
To unite all who are impacted by Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor (DSRCT) through community, awareness, accessible disease resources, and direct family support, in pursuit of a world where no one faces this disease alone or without hope.
Community Impact
In 2025, after more than a decade of helping moderate the Facebook DSRCT support community, I created a weekly virtual peer support space so families facing DSRCT could find connection and hope. Today the virtual community includes more than 100 registered members from 14 countries. We’ve welcomed 45 unique call participants in the peer support space, more than half of whom have returned. Attendees return on average nearly five times. In addition, I invite and record guest speakers in the group, and am building a growing collection of lived experience DSRCT stories and resources on the Hope Always in the fight against DSRCT YouTube channel. In July 2026, I’m excited to share the DSRCT Initiative website, which gathers DSRCT research, community links, and expert clinical resources in one place, turning decades of lived experience into a practical tool.
The research is still limited. What we can learn from one another is not.
With Gratitude & Hope Always,
Laura Owens, Cole’s Mom
DSRCT Initiative Founder
Join us
You do not have to do this alone.
Our peer support community is a free weekly resource for patients and caregivers. Come exactly as you are. You are not alone. We are stronger together.
Join Our Peer Support CommunityYou can also explore our reference and resource library. Find lived experiences and topic speakers on our YouTube channel.
Support the Mission
For now, this is the work of one person, sustained entirely by what our community gives. Your support keeps it going and helps build the infrastructure to grow a global DSRCT advocacy organization.
- Support the seed campaign that sustains this work and funds building the website and organization.
- Get involved as a founding board member.
- Help research and review content.
Your support goes directly toward sustaining this work. Gifts through the campaign are not tax deductible at this time.
To join the board or help with content, email hopealways@thedsrctinitiative.org.