On the occasion of September in GOLD, Fight Kids Cancer, an initiative created by Imagine for Margo and its European partners, is launching a new call for projects to boost research against childhood brain tumors
Brain tumors represent the second most common form of childhood cancer after leukemia. Among solid tumors in children, those of the central nervous system are the most common (30% of tumors). More than 3,000 little warriors, including around 500 in France, are affected in Europe each year.
Over the past 30 years, there has been very little progress in the treatment and cure of children and adolescents affected by brain tumors. Faced with this situation, Fight Kids Cancer has decided to act by dedicating its 2024 call for projects to this type of cancer. The goal is simple: accelerate innovation in childhood brain tumors and respond to the urgent need for effective treatments.
Patricia Blanc, Founding President of Imagine for Margo: “Like every year since 2020, we are launching the Fight Kids Cancer call for projects on the occasion of September in Gold. This year, we have chosen, for the first time, to dedicate it solely to brain tumors. When Margo was diagnosed with this type of cancer in 2011, there was no treatment. 12 years after its incredible collection to accelerate research, there is still no effective treatment that could have cured it. With this call for projects, we want to continue her fight and offer new therapeutic solutions for the thousands of children who fight these cancers daily. »
This call for projects will cover the following non-exclusive objectives:
- Have a real impact on young patients,
- Improve survival rates and reduce side effects of treatments,
- Advance knowledge of pediatric malignancies,
- Support interdisciplinary research
- Strengthen collaboration and the development of scientific capacities across Europe.
Applications for this call for projects, which began on September 1, 2023 within the European Science Foundation (ESF), ended on October 17, 2023. During this call, Imagine for Margo and its partners invited all European community of researchers who have a project on childhood brain tumors to submit it directly to the ESF: https://www.esf.org/funding-programmes/fight-kids-cancer-2023-2024- call-for-proposals/ . The results will be communicated in June 2024.
FIGHT KIDS CANCER, A HOPE-BRINGING INITIATIVE DEPLOYING IN EUROPE
Created in 2020 by the Imagine for Margo association, the Belgian Kick Cancer foundation and the Luxembourg Kriiskrank Kanner foundation, Fight Kids Cancer launches calls for projects in order to catalyze and support pan-European cutting-edge research initiatives on pediatric cancers. The desire of members is to develop innovative approaches to improve outcomes for all children and adolescents with cancer.
In just three years, this unique call for projects of its kind in Europe on childhood cancer has managed to allocate nearly 14 million euros to research on pediatric cancers. In total, 21 research projects have already been funded.
In addition, Fight Kids Cancer spread the wings of its butterfly of hope over Europe. Indeed, since last year, the three founding members have been joined by the Cris Foundation (Spain) and the KiKa Foundation (the Netherlands).
Patricia Blanc, Founding President of Imagine for Margo: “In three years, Fight Kids Cancer has boosted research against childhood cancer and united at the international level. A first initiative on this subject in Europe. With the arrival of Spain and the Netherlands within our call for projects, we are convinced that this initiative, bringing hope during September in GOLD, will be the guide to the construction of a world with children without cancer. ”
CHILDREN WITHOUT CANCER: THE NEXT SOLIDARITY MEETING TO ACCELERATE RESEARCH AGAINST CHILDREN’S CANCER WITH FIGHT KIDS CANCER
On September 24, Imagine for Margo will start the largest solidarity race in France against childhood and adolescent cancer. This sporting and family event will take place at the Domaine national de Saint-Cloud and online and will allow the association to accelerate research by collecting funds to finance the 9 projects selected in 2023 by Fight Kids Cancer.
During this race which brought together nearly 6,000 people in 2022, 100% of the donations collected were allocated to research. A unique and supportive system which allowed Imagine for Margo to hand over a check for €2,160,000 to researchers during this 11th edition.
This year, the organizers of this superb event are expecting a new edition bringing hope for children and adolescents fighting against this scourge.
