The Raymond Foundation is a New York–based health-advocacy group that focuses on “eradicating gastrointestinal (GI) cancers” through patient education, caregiver resources, and coalition-style awareness campaigns. ^{1 2}

Leadership

Martha Raymond is the founder and CEO of the Raymond Foundation, starting the foundation in 2014 in memory of her parents who had both died from colon cancer in their early 40s. ³ Raymond was also the founding executive director of the GI Cancers Alliance. ⁴

Other executive staff include chief communications officer Margaret-Ann Simonetta and chief marketing officer Keith Kaplan. The foundation also employees volunteer committees to organize its national programs. ⁵

Activities

According to its website, the Raymond Foundation organizes four main initiatives: Global Colon Cancer Survivor Day, Global Cancer Caregiver Day, March for a Cure, and Test Your Biomarkers. Colon Cancer Survivor Day is an annual community event that features colon cancer survivors to commemorate survivors while remembering those who died due to the disease. Global Cancer Caregiver Day is a local event where cancer treatment caregivers are recognized for their services. March for a Cure is a fitness and wellness campaign that encourages exercise and physical activity to reduce risks of colon cancer. Test Your Biomarkers, an education program partnered with GI Cancers Alliance, provides patients with information on biomarker and molecular testing used to identify risks of colon cancer. ⁶

Advocacy

As of 2025, the Raymond Foundation is a member of both the GI Cancers Alliance and the Global Colon Cancer Association. ⁷

Between 2023 and 2025, the Raymond Foundation was one of 40 organizations to sponsor “United in Blue,” a network event organized by Fight Colorectal Cancer to oversee the installation of 27,000 blue flags on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to symbolize the projected number of Americans under 50 who will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer by 2030. ⁸

1. “Lifting the Burden: How the Raymond Foundation Helps to Support Caregivers.” CURE Today. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://www.curetoday.com/view/lifting-the-burden-how-the-raymond-foundation-helps-to-support-caregivers.
2. “About Us.” The Raymond Foundation. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://www.theraymondfoundation.org/about-us.
3. “Martha Raymond.” CURE Today. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://www.curetoday.com/contributors/martha-raymond.
4. “The Raymond Foundation.” GI Cancers Alliance. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://www.gicancersalliance.org/members/the-raymond-foundation/.
5. “Our Team.” The Raymond Foundation. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://www.theraymondfoundation.org/team.
6. GI Cancer Support and Advocacy | The Raymond Foundation.” The Raymond Foundation. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://www.theraymondfoundation.org.
7. “United in the Fight Against Colorectal Cancer.” GlobeNewswire, Fight Colorectal Cancer. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/de/news-release/2023/03/01/2618831/0/en/United-in-the-Fight-Against-Colorectal-Cancer.html.
8. “27,400 Reasons to Pay Attention: United in Blue Demands Action.” GlobeNewswire, Fight Colorectal Cancer. Accessed August 8, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/de/news-release/2025/03/03/3035991/0/en/27-400-Reasons-to-Pay-Attention-United-in-Blue-Demands-Action.html.