Teresa Belluco: A Legacy of Hope and Impact

Teresa Belluco was just 13 years old when she received a devastating diagnosis—synovial sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that few had even heard of. A talented gymnast from Villafranca Padovana, Italy, she was full of life, ambition, and determination. But rather than allowing her illness to define her, Teresa chose to fight with everything she had.

Her journey led her across the world in search of hope. At 14, Teresa and her family made the difficult decision to leave home and travel to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, where she was accepted into an early-phase immunotherapy clinical trial—one of the first patients to participate. She spent nearly a year in Houston, undergoing experimental treatment in a final attempt to turn the tide against her disease. Through every day of treatment, she remained resilient, hopeful, and full of grace, continuing her studies remotely and keeping her spirit unbreakable.

In June 2024, at just 15 years old, Teresa passed away. Yet, her impact continues to shape the future of synovial sarcoma research. Knowing how vital scientific progress would be for others facing this disease, Teresa donated her tumor tissue to the Synovial Sarcoma Tissue Bank at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), ensuring researchers could use her case to uncover new insights into the disease.

In honor of her wishes, the Belluco family donated $173,000 to CHOP-led synovial sarcoma research, including $108,000 to the “Following Seth to Cure Synovial Sarcoma” Fund and $65,000 to the Spence Family Sarcoma Fund’s TumorGlow research at Penn Medicine. This generous contribution directly supports efforts to improve surgical precision, develop targeted therapies, and expand clinical trials that could change the future for synovial sarcoma patients.

Teresa’s strength, courage, and generosity embody the very reason our foundation exists—to push research forward, expand treatment options, and offer real hope to those diagnosed with this disease. Her legacy will live on in the advancements made possible by her contributions, ensuring that every step forward in synovial sarcoma research is one she helped pave.

To support ongoing research in Teresa’s honor, visit here.