IMPACT
Expect Miracles Foundation tackles cancer from every angle—advancing research and supporting survivors through three core funds. Since 1995, EMF has awarded over $25 million in cancer research and financial assistance.
Through the EMF Distance Challenge:
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100% of every participant-raised dollar supports EMF’s mission
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Event costs are covered by generous sponsors, maximizing impact
Your support fuels:
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Breakthrough cancer research focused on early detection, prognosis, drug resistance, and metastatic disease
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Financial assistance for young adult cancer survivors (ages 21–39) through EMF’s SAMFund, covering essentials like housing, transportation, education, and family-building costs
DISCOVERY FUND
EMF’s Discovery Fund supports the Belfer Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, advancing collaborative research to accelerate breakthrough targeted and immune-based cancer therapies, bridge academia and industry, and bring promising treatments to patients faster.
INNOVATION FUND
EMF’s Innovation Fund supports the Center for Experimental Therapeutics at Memorial Sloan Kettering, funding Dr. Daniel Heller’s pioneering nanotechnology research to detect cancer early and deliver safer, more
effective treatments to patients faster.
SAMFUND
The SAMFund, a program of Expect Miracles Foundation, provides vital financial and family-building grants to young adult cancer survivors, helping them recover from the financial impact of cancer. Since 2005, over 2,800 grants totaling nearly $5 million have been awarded.
STORIES BEHIND THE MILES
"Cancer took my mother and aunt far too young. I go the Distance to stand behind a cause that offers genuine, human support to those impacted by cancer."
Antoinette Behan
CACEIS
"Inspired by my mom’s strength, I go the Distance to support cancer research and young adult survivors. Every mile helps move us closer to a world without cancer."
Nicole Filingeri
Invesco
"The EMF Distance Challenge honors my mother, Marilyn, my friend Justin Teague, and others lost to cancer by transforming remembrance into meaningful research and support."
Tim McGowan
Fidelity
EMF DISTANCE CHALLENGE HISTORY
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced our traditional in-person events to be canceled in 2020, we knew the cancer community needed our support more than ever. Out of necessity, we asked one simple question: how far can we go to leave cancer behind?
Thus, the EMF Distance Challenge was born. For 8 days, individuals, teams, and companies set personal distance and fundraising goals—walking, running, biking, or moving however they could.
In 2025:
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2,000+ participants from 21 countries
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43,000 miles traveled
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$1.4M raised
And since its launch in 2020, the Distance Challenge has raised over $5 million.
What began as a virtual idea has grown into a global movement—proving that every step, every mile, and every dollar makes a difference.
