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 The basics:

• Summit fifth grader diagnosed with clear cell sarcoma
• Underwent toe amputation and lengthy recovery process
• Raised more than $100K through Cycle for Survival
• Funds support rare cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering

For 10-year-old Chase Singer, what began as a small bump on his toe during a family vacation quickly turned into a life-altering diagnosis. Ultimately, it’s become a mission to help other children and families facing rare cancers.

Fifth-grader and Summit native Chase had been heavily involved in soccer and lacrosse. In 2024, he was diagnosed with clear cell sarcoma. The rare and aggressive soft tissue cancer typically affects tendons and connective tissue and is extraordinarily uncommon in children.

“He found something funny on his foot when we were on vacation. Like any parents, we looked at it and we thought maybe it was a bug bite,” his mother, Sarah Singer, recounted to NJBIZ.

She discussed how she and her husband, Jason, approached the situation, when Chase was just 8 years old. The couple have two other children, as well.

After the swelling failed to improve, the family sought medical attention and were quickly referred to Memorial Sloan Kettering. “It went from literally we thought like maybe he needed an antibiotic or something was stuck – to a solid tumor,” said Singer.

Physicians at MSK ultimately determined Chase had clear cell sarcoma — a cancer so rare his doctors told the family only a few hundred cases were diagnosed over the past decade.

The right team

Because there is currently no consistently effective chemotherapy, radiation or immunotherapy treatment for clear cell sarcoma, doctors determined surgery was the best option. Chase underwent the amputation of one of his toes, followed by tissue grafts, additional surgeries and a difficult recovery process.

“We went from having a kid that was playing on a national soccer team at a young age, who was loving life and was the life of every party, to going in for a biopsy,” Singer said. “Unfortunately, having to amputate his second toe to tissue grafting it. And it took about six months for Chase to go from that process with all of the secondary things that happened to being able to walk and run again.”

The recovery included wheelchairs, crutches, walkers and repeated hospital visits. Meanwhile, Chase continued undergoing PET scans, MRIs, CT scans, X-rays and blood work every few months to monitor for recurrence.

“He literally still spends entire days every two-and-a-half, three months fasting and being pricked and going through scans that make him sick to his stomach,” said Singer. “All to sit and wait for results.”

Still, she said her son’s energy and personality have remained intact.

“What I know is that I have the right people fighting for me, and Chase is going to fight and still come out being a silly, fun, sports-obsessed, video gaming, smart kid who is going to continue to have that personality,” Singer said. “Cancer is not going to get that from him.”

‘This is tricky’

The family described Chase’s caretakers at MSK as instrumental throughout the process — both medically and emotionally. Particularly pediatric oncologist Dr. Julia Glade Bender and orthopedic surgeon and surgical oncologist Dr. Daniel Prince.

Singer said the doctors built an immediate bond with her son.

“Dr. Daniel Prince – who Chase will tell you – is literally his spirit animal in life,” said Singer. “He is one of the most amazing people.” She noted Prince will throw basketballs with her son or play video games with him.

“They continually are amazing,” Singer said of him and Bender. “There’s very few doctors – and we’ve seen several unfortunately over the last couple of years – that will get down on the floor with Chase and talk to him in a way he can understand. Because this is tricky; and he’s little. And they not only have to talk to him, they have to talk to us and our whole family.

“And I just don’t think there’s many institutions that can do it the same way.”

Now back on the soccer field and regaining his strength, Chase and his family have turned their experience into advocacy through Cycle for Survival, the official rare cancer fundraising program of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Ridealong

Cycle for Survival has grown into one of the country’s largest rare cancer fundraising movements.

Since launching in 2007, MSK’s signature philanthropic and awareness effort around the issue has raised more than $450 million for rare cancer research, including $38 million during its 2026 campaign.

Cycle for Survival partners with Equinox to host indoor stationary cycling events nationwide each winter. The campaign brings together families, survivors, doctors, coworkers and supporters to fund research for rare cancers, which account for roughly half of all cancer diagnoses but often receive significantly less research funding.

Organizers said more than 30,000 participants and approximately 155,000 donors participated in this year’s events, with 100% of donations going directly toward rare cancer research and clinical trials at MSK. Planning is already underway for the 2027 rides and fundraising campaign.

For the Singer family, the support they received helped inspire them. After spotting a Cycle for Survival billboard during one of his hospital visits, Chase said he wanted to participate, “To raise money for my doctors and cancer research.”

The program hosts four-hour team stationary cycling rides across the country each year. Led by Equinox instructors, participants can ride regardless of athletic ability.

At the Summit Equinox event in New Jersey, held March 14 and 15, more than 1,000 riders participated across more than 100 bikes in support of rare cancer research.

Chase-ing the Cure

For Chase and his family, getting involved became about helping fund future breakthroughs for diseases like his own.

“Rare cancer is so underfunded and pediatric cancer so underfunded,” said Singer. “If there was a blood test that we could give Chase to take away all those hospital hours just to diagnose him, that would be life-changing for him.”

She added: “If there was an immunotherapy treatment, and MSK has several that they’re working on, that meant we didn’t have to open him up every time something looks suspicious. That would be life-changing for him. So, when we look at everything MSK has done for us, what we want to do back is to help support what the future of care can be.”

The family rode under the team name “Chase the Cure,” and quickly became one of the fundraiser’s standout participants. Chase alone raised more than $100,000.

“Oh yeah, I beat my doctor’s team,” Chase said with a smile.

“And because Chase did so well, what did you get to do at the end?” Singer asked him.

“I got to announce the final fundraising for the whole year,” Chase said.

The total surpassed $35 million at the time of the event, before additional fundraising closed later in April.

“It was kind of cool for Chase also, because it was the 20th anniversary of Cycle for Survival this year,” Singer said. At the event itself, Chase participated in a memorable way. “We have a picture – it’s Chase sitting on the handlebars while all the instructors were playing music, and his brother [Jacob] was riding,” Singer said.

Small wins, big pictures

Despite everything he has endured, Chase said the experience has taught him how to approach life moving forward. “It’s taught you to be a what?” his mother asked during the interview.

“A fighter,” Chase replied. “And to be brave.”

The family says the experience has fundamentally changed their perspective on daily life. “We make every day good,” said Singer. “We don’t take anything for granted. It’s all about small wins and big pictures.”

For her, the broader mission behind Cycle for Survival remains rooted in both gratitude and hope. She says it also presents a goal, something that’s tangible.

“And the incredible thing about it is every single dollar raised goes exactly back into the hands of the people that are looking for the next cure, the next advancements,” she said. “So, for me, being able to look at a cause and to do something gives me a sense of – I’m going to fight back, not just to keep Chase healthy.

“But what can I do to help the cause and to help with some small way in the advancement?”

Outsized impact

Even as Chase continues undergoing regular scans, MRIs and testing every few months, his family says he remains upbeat and determined.

“We’re going to make cancer scared of Chase, instead of Chase scared of cancer,” said Singer.

The experience has also shaped Chase’s future ambitions.

We’re going to make cancer scared of Chase, instead of Chase scared of cancer.

“Chase has said now he wants to be them when he grows up,” Singer said, referring to his doctors, Bender and Prince.

“I want to be a doctor,” Chase said. Specifically, he hopes to work at MSK one day as an oncologist.

“And his sister wants to be a nurse practitioner,” said Singer. “I think it shaped a lot of how our family views things.”

More information on Cycle for Survival is available here.