Blood Cancer United first reached out to Sarah Ayala near the end of 2024, asking her to be a part of the nonprofit’s Visionaries of the Year campaign.
She was unable to join because she was busy supporting her father, Guadalupe “Lupe” Ayala, through his cancer treatment.
A couple of months later, as her father was going through a different course of treatment for his multiple myeloma, Sarah pitched him the idea of their becoming visionaries together. It was mostly a side remark — nothing was planned — but Sarah thought they would take on the fundraising challenge together.
“We honestly thought we had more time with him,” Sarah said.
Lupe died in August 2025 of a type of cancer that affects white blood cells in the bone marrow that normally help fight infections. Now, his youngest daughter plans to move forward with the campaign in honor of her father.
Sarah is one of eight Tarrant County leaders participating in the Visionaries of the Year program for Blood Cancer United. The fundraising campaign started in 1990 and has raised over $500 million through its 68 local chapters.
“I’m turning this grief into something with purpose,” she said.
For 10 weeks, visionaries participate in a blind philanthropic drive, recruiting a team to raise funds for Blood Cancer United, the largest nonprofit raising funds for blood cancer since 1949.
The campaign started at midnight Feb. 20 alongside a kickoff event at the Stockyards location of La Playa, the restaurant chain started by Lupe in 1988, and runs to May 2.
Find out more about the eight Tarrant County Visionaries of the Year here.
Sarah noted that her father was on board with assisting the visionaries when she mentioned them.
“When I did tell him about this, he was just like, ‘Let me know how I can help,’” she said. “And this is a beautiful way for him to help.”
Find out more about Sarah Ayala’s campaign here.
Siblings Sarah Ayala, David Ayala, Amanda Sanchez and Natalie Ayala Hall pose for a photo outside of La Playa Maya on Feb. 10, 2026, in the Stockyards of Fort Worth. Their father, Lupe Ayala, passed away from blood cancer. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report/CatchLight Local/Report for America)
She also sees it as a fundraising effort that would align with her father’s beliefs. Blood Cancer United, founded in 1949, has raised more than $2 billion in funding for research.
The nonprofit also has the goal of adding a million years of life to those suffering from over 100 different types of blood cancer.
“All my friends and family can tell you that Sarah is a busybody, and that’s how my dad was,” Sarah said. “My dad always wanted to be moving forward, so doing this for research is in alignment with his train of thought of trying to move the needle.”
All three of Sarah’s siblings are part of her visionaries team. The Visionary of the Year title is awarded to the participant that raises the most funds with their team.
“Educating people on the specific type of cancer and the need for research on it, I think that’s great,” said Natalie Ayala Hall, one of Sarah’s sisters. “It’s terrible that it took us losing somebody to bring this to our attention, but we’re here and glad to be a part (of the effort).
Siblings David Ayala, Amanda Sanchez, Sarah Ayala and Natalie Ayala Hall hold a photo of their father, Lupe Ayala, in front of La Playa Maya on Feb. 10, 2026. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report/CatchLight Local/Report for America)
A look at Tarrant County efforts
The community effort is why Visionaries of the Year is Chloe Wilder’s favorite Blood Cancer United initiative.
“It really is incredible what we can accomplish on a national level, but when you look at the local impact, that’s really what makes a tangible difference,” she said.
Wilder, the Tarrant County campaign development manager for Blood Cancer United, said the Fort Worth philanthropic space is why the initiative has seen a lot of success recently.
One reason for the growing momentum is the personal connection that inspires people to participate. An individual must be nominated to become a visionary, and every single one has a personal connection to blood cancer similar to the Ayala family’s, Wilder said.
In 2024, the Tarrant County teams raised just over $111,000. In 2025, they more than doubled that total, raising $255,855.
Sarah Ayala wears a blood cancer pin on her collar, in front of La Playa Maya on Feb. 10, 2026, in the Fort Worth Stockyards. Sarah’s father passed away from blood cancer and she is now participating in the Visionaries of the Year campaign for Blood Cancer United. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report/CatchLight Local/Report for America)
On the first day of fundraising, Tarrant County Visionaries of the Year raised $105,148.22. The goal for 2026 is to reach $500,000 in donations, Wilder said.
“I think that it is entirely possible — and realistic that we even surpass that,” Wilder said, regarding the 2026 goal. “We’re really excited. We have amazing energy, and it’s going to be an incredible year.”
Ismael M. Belkoura is the health reporter for the Fort Worth Report. His position is supported by a grant from Texas Health Resources. Contact him at ismael.belkoura@fortworthreport.org.
At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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