Hello, patient CGL friends!
The official dates* for the CGL Online Charity Auction this year, 100% to benefit the Lymphoma Research Foundation, are:
August 16 – 23, 2025*
Why? Because 8.16 and 8.23 are LOST numbers, of course! CGL will always pay homage to the show that inspired the creation of our cancer charity fundraising endeavor. [And today is 4.8; thus, this post and auction date reveal!]
Less Fun News
*Auction dates are TENTATIVE. Due to the new tariffs, instability of the stock market and increasing unemployment numbers, we are sensitive to the higher costs involved for CGL charity auction winning bidders. So for now we will continue to monitor the financial landscape here in the States, and will keep you posted if the dates do change.
I’m going to be very honest here. The federal cuts to cancer research in the U.S. are beyond devastating, and cancer charities are desperately seeking alternate funding now more than ever. So, CGL is extremely motivated to continue fundraising for a variety of cancer non-profits via CGL auctions!
International Shipping Restrictions + Tariff Unknowns for CGL
There are MANY unknowns right now for CGL when it comes to shipping auction items internationally due to the new tariffs. As of today, it seems WE would have to pay 10%-20% tariffs on each auction item (considered goods purchased from the U.S.) being shipped to a winning bidder abroad, in addition to time-consuming and complex documentation requirements for each package.
Due to our minuscule operating budget AND because CGL already covers all bidders’ auction buyer’s premiums fees so that you don’t have to - it is simply not possible for us to cover all of those additional costs.
Therefore, we had to make the frustrating decision to only open this particular charity auction to bidders with U.S. shipping addresses.
Frankly, we just can’t ask or expect our international auction bidders to be responsible for ALL of the following costs for just one CGL auction package:
1. Outrageous increased global shipping costs
2. Individual country customs/duties fees upon package arrival
3. Possible tariffs for goods received from the U.S. (that YOU would have to pay on your end, separate from the tariffs we would have to pay to ship to you)
One Solution/Option!
If you live outside of the States but have a friend, relative or office in the U.S. that is willing to hold on to a package for you, please email me before you register in late July (the reg link will be sent to you when it’s open!).
The Why
We hate that we have to limit our auction participants this way, but the risks far outweigh the benefits for CGL. As you know, almost all of the items in our auctions are irreplaceable and/or one-of-a-kind. The risks involved in shipping said items have increased by a large margin.
IF a CGL auction package is broken, illegally seized or lost – every single cent donated by the winning bidder won’t then be donated to the Lymphoma Research Foundation. Instead, CGL will have to reimburse the winning bidder the amount paid for the item. That is a worse-case scenario for CGL, for the LRF and for the person who won the item. It has happened before, and we fear it will happen again.
Back to the Good News: CGL 2025 Auction Items!
Below is a list of the shows, films, music, books, etc. represented in the 2025 CGL auction! AND we are awaiting amazing packages of rare goodies from our Kilter Films friends at Fallout (on Prime Video) and from our long LOST friend Michael Giacchino!
Agatha All Along, Agent Carter, Ariana Grande, The Bear, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Bob’s Burgers, Deadpool & Wolverine, Doctor Who, Evil, Fallout, Fringe, FROM, Futurama, Game of Thrones, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3, House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, LOST, Michael Giacchino, The Penguin, Person of Interest, Rings of Power, SNL, Severance, Star Trek, Stranger Things, Taylor Swift, Ted Lasso, The 100, Tom Hanks, Westworld, What We Do In The Shadows, The Wheel of Time, The White Lotus, Wynonna Earp, Yellowjackets and more!
**Side note: it is possible that due to the limited reach of this charity auction, CGL may choose to save a few rare items from the list above for future auctions instead.
How to Follow CGL & Help Get the Word Out!
If you have not done so already, please bookmark this site for auction item previews and updates, as well as follow us on Instagram @CancerGetsLost (our most active and frequently updated social media space)! CGL is also still active on Bluesky @CancerGetsLost.bsky.social, and we would love to interact with more kind followers there as well!
Many of you often inquire about how to help with our charity auctions, in non-financial ways. The answer remains the same: if you see a CGL charity auction post featuring an item you like, simply share it to your own page or story on your social platform of choice! Some also choose to copy and paste CGL website posts like this one , to email or text to family and friends. Word-of-mouth continues to be CGL’s very best method of promotion and marketing, all thanks to you!
Fundraising Outlook & Gratitude
Truthfully, so many lovely humans have already lost their jobs here in the States due to many changes at the federal level, and sadly so many more will. My heart truly goes out to all affected by the widespread employment cuts across all specialties and industries.
Realistically, we know that CGL will not raise as much this year (or likely over the next 4 years) for cancer charities as we have in the past, for all of the reasons addressed above. And that is OK! Any money raised for a cancer charity is significant and will help make an actual difference.
Furthermore! That will NOT stop us from continuing to fundraise for myriad cancer nonprofits! Because no matter how much CGL raises and then donates from our auctions, we know that every single person working in the cancer charity sector is always so grateful to receive any donations from CGL via our auctions.
And we are tremendously grateful for you! Our online and live charity auctions are successful thanks to the collective YOU, who kindly continue to donate items AND bid in CGL auctions. Know that we are deeply appreciative for your support, particularly during very challenging times like this.
Thank you for your support of CGL, for sharing CGL posts on your social media spaces of choice, and for having positive intent in your heart!
With genuine gratitude,
Jo
Jo Garfein
Co-Founder, Cancer Gets Lost
[please feel free to contact me with any questions: CancerGetsLost at gmail dot com]