2025 has been an extraordinary year for the World Child Cancer community. Across continents, programs, partnerships, and policy spaces, we have seen what is possible when generosity, advocacy, and locally led action come together with a shared purpose: improving survival and quality of life for children with cancer in low- and middle-income countries.

From landmark program launches and global advocacy moments, to grassroots fundraising and community-led initiatives, this year has been shaped by the dedication of our supporters, partners, healthcare professionals, and families. We are proud to reflect on some of the key moments that made 2025 one to remember.

Your Generosity 

Our work would not be possible without the support of our community. In 2025, individuals, companies, foundations, ambassadors, and partners stepped forward in inspiring ways- raising vital funds, amplifying awareness, and standing alongside children and families affected by childhood cancer. 

Our Transformative Collaboration with Amgen 

Our long-term collaboration with Amgen continues to transform the odds for children with Burkitt’s Lymphoma and other cancers, while strengthening healthcare systems sustainably. In 2025, they also enabled the launch of a groundbreaking MSc In Healthcare Play Therapy in Ghana, which will train play therapists from sub-Saharan Africa and significantly improve care and emotional support for children and their families. We are truly grateful to Amgen for their transformative support. 

 

Ambassador UK Corporate Partnerships 

This year marked an important milestone as World Child Cancer built on the longstanding support of UK-based companies by formally recognising them as named corporate partners through our Ambassador group for the first time. We extend special thanks to partners and event sponsors The Wiggett Group, AD Construction Group, Faithorn Farrell Timms,  and Greyline, whose support made our Ambassador events possible, alongside additional corporate partners RGE Services, Ian Williams LTD, PiLON, True Compliance , and Devonshires, whose teams played a key role in their success. 

Our Ambassador-led events were a standout success in 2025. From the Summer and Winter Quizzes to the Manchester Dinner, our first-ever Golf Day, and the flagship Gala Dinner, these events raised over £221,000 to support children with cancer. 

 

Foundations  

We are also profoundly appreciative of the foundations whose long-term commitment has had a transformative impact on children with cancer and those who care for them. 

The UBS Optimus Foundation has had a transformative impact in West Africa by supporting efforts to strengthen healthcare systems and improve access to diagnosis and treatment for children with cancer. Its commitment has helped lay the groundwork for lasting, system-wide change across the region. 

Thanks to the financial support of FOUNDATION S, national systems and coordination were strengthened to enable children with cancer to improve equitable access to diagnosis, treatment and care closer to their homes in Cameroon and Nepal.  

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) and the Health Carousel Foundation have also played a pivotal role in building sustainable foundations for childhood cancer care by funding specialist one-year training for nurses in pediatric oncology. SNF is also funding two-year fellowships in pediatric oncology for two doctors, who will then improve quality of care and access to treatment for children for many years to come.  

The Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung has made a profound difference in Malawi by enabling holistic support for children with cancer and their families. Its support has improved early diagnosis, helped children access timely treatment, and strengthened care pathways, addressing critical gaps across the patient journey. 

We are also deeply thankful to the Light Fund, whose support recognises the emotional toll faced by those caring for children with cancer every day. By standing alongside nurses, the Light Fund helps ensure that caregivers themselves feel supported. 

Together, these foundations exemplify how strategic philanthropy can drive meaningful, sustainable progress and improve outcomes for children with cancer and the teams who care for them. Thank you!  

 

Fundraising Events and Campaigns 

Fundraising in 2025 brought together communities in powerful ways: 

The London Marathon 2025 saw our incredible team of runners – Chloe, Jack, Ankan, Shane, Maria, Augusto, and Guy – raise an impressive £22,137. Their training and effort were matched by the generosity of everyone who supported them, and we are already looking ahead to celebrating our 2026 runners. 

We were delighted to launch a new partnership with Bakery79, joining Park Garage Group Plc to celebrate the opening of this exciting new brand across the UK. Through this partnership, a portion of proceeds from every Bakery 79 doughnut sold is donated to World Child Cancer, with every 20p helping improve access to diagnosis, treatment, and care for children with cancer. 

To mark the International Day of Play, World Child Cancer partnered with Upside Down House UK™ in Bristol for a one-of-a-kind family event themed “Choose Play Every Day.” Families took part in imaginative play, viewed artwork created by children undergoing cancer treatment around the world, and created messages of solidarity for children currently in care. 

The 10th Annual Informa Walk the World was another milestone moment. Since the partnership began in 2018, Informa colleagues have raised over £145,000 – an incredible result. 

During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM), artwork auctions and our fundraising campaign raised than £15,000, while also amplifying awareness of early warning signs and the importance of timely diagnosis. 

Once again in 2025, the passionate Caitríona Balfe Fan Community went above and beyond – raising funds, spreading awareness, and showing support for children with cancer and their families. It was especially lovely to meet a number of supporters in person in Edinburgh this September and say thank you face to face. 

Grassroots generosity shone through initiatives like Myanmar Stitches for Support, where caregivers trained in crochet and handicrafts sold their creations at weekly pop-up markets in Yangon. This initiative has raised £1,667 to directly support children receiving treatment at Yangon Children’s Hospital. 

The year closed with the Big Give Christmas Challenge, which raised over £70,000 thanks to generous match funding from The Reed Foundation, doubling the impact of every donation. 

Your generosity and long-term commitment have played a pivotal role in advancing childhood cancer care, enabling innovation, strengthening health systems, and supporting children and families at every stage of their journey. 

 

Advocacy 

Advocacy remained a cornerstone of World Child Cancer’s work in 2025, ensuring that childhood cancer is recognised as a global health priority and that children’s voices are represented in policy, financing, and system-level discussions. 

In Ghana, we completed a year-long program with the International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN), funded by Global Health Partnerships. Through 10 specialised sessions, 128 healthcare professionals were trained in medical, psychosocial, and family-centred palliative care for children with life-limiting conditions.

Read our reflections on the program here.

Watch and learn more about our partnership with ICPCN here.

On International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD), we launched the global theme Learn, Heal, Thrive, spotlighting survivor scholarships, healthcare training, play therapy and child life services, and hospital-based learning. The ICCD webinar featured voices including World Child Cancer CEO Luke Thomas and Dr Lannes Kamara, Sierra Leone’s first pediatric oncologist. 

A major advocacy milestone was the announcement of West Africa’s first MSc in Healthcare Play Therapy, made possible through our collaboration with Amgen and partnerships with the University of Ghana, the Ministry of Health Ghana, and the University of Health and Allied Sciences. The program will offer 20 scholarships, building a new workforce of play therapists across Sub-Saharan Africa. 

In Nepal, we supported the launch of the Nepal Childhood Cancer Alliance (NCCA), uniting government, NGOs, WHO, UNICEF, and national stakeholders to strengthen early diagnosis, family support, and health system coordination. 

World Child Cancer engaged in the launch phase of the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines, led by the World Health Organization and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In 2025, the initiative began delivering essential childhood cancer medicines to pilot countries, including Nepal. World Child Cancer supported country-level implementation and witnessed the arrival of medicines—an important step toward reducing treatment abandonment and improving survival. 

 At the 78th World Health Assembly, World Child Cancer’s Director of Programs, Joseph Dixon, joined a side event hosted by City Cancer Challenge and Access Accelerated, focused on innovative financing for cancer care. During the Assembly, Trustee Julie S. Torode and Joseph Dixon met with Dr Roberta Ortiz Sequeira from the World Health Organization to advance discussions toward a future Memorandum of Understanding, reinforcing collaboration on childhood cancer. 

World Child Cancer joined Devex’s Accelerating Action series, which explores innovative financing models to advance health equity and address NCDs in low- and middle-income countries. Through this platform, we advocated for pediatric oncology to be recognised as a priority within universal health coverage, highlighting childhood cancer as a powerful entry point for building stronger, fairer health systems. This work was supported by Amgen. 

At the 19th World Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care in Helsinki, Lizzie Chambers of the International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN) and Emmanuel Ayire Adongo of World Child Cancer presented a joint poster on building grassroots capacity for children’s palliative care.

The presentation shared learning from a collaborative project in Ghana, highlighting how training, mentorship, and hands-on clinical experience can expand access to quality children’s palliative care.

At SIOP 2025, Glenn Mbah, Program Coordinator for Cameroon, and Rachel Hollis, Chair of Trustees, took part in a nursing leadership panel alongside global experts. The discussion focused on leadership, collaboration, and the critical role of nurses in strengthening pediatric oncology care worldwide. It was especially meaningful to have representatives from each of World Child Cancer’s program countries together in the same place at the same time.

Watch our team’s highlights from the conference.

We were proud to see Aida, World Child Cancer’s Child Life Specialist in Malawi, represent our programs at the 4th International Children’s Palliative Care Network Conference in Manila, Philippines. Awarded a Boas Travel Bursary, Aida presented on A Psychosocial Approach in Providing Palliative Care to Children at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Malawi, sharing practical insights grounded in her day-to-day work with children and families. 

Read Aida’s key takeaways here.

At national level, World Child Cancer’s Ghana team played an active role in the Ghana National Cancer Forum, a landmark event led by the Ministry of Health. The Forum brought together government, healthcare professionals, civil society, and partners to shape the future of cancer care in Ghana, with a strong focus on pediatric oncology. 

We launched the Courageous Futures Scholarship in Ghana, supporting survivors to pursue secondary education, tertiary studies, or vocational and technical training. Alongside financial support, the program offers mentorship and peer connection through regular sessions and group gatherings, helping survivors build confidence, community, and long-term goals.

Developed in close collaboration with survivors, families, and local partners, and made possible with support from Amgen and The Carlyle Group, the initiative reflects a shared belief that there is life beyond childhood cancer.

Read more about the Courageous Futures Scholarship and other 2025 highlights in our full blog.

We also continued to prioritise children’s emotional wellbeing through the launch of a new Xploro interactive chemotherapy storybook. Co-created with families, clinicians, and Child Life specialists, the storybook helps children better understand treatment in a reassuring, age-appropriate way.

Thanks to Xploro’s generosity, this resource is freely available to World Child Cancer patients across multiple program countries, supporting children to feel more informed, confident, and supported throughout their care. Discover more about the impact of Xploro here.

Programs 

In 2025, our programs continued to translate advocacy and generosity into tangible impact for children and families. 

Across program countries, International Childhood Cancer Day activities included essential care item distributions, nationwide media outreach, market-based education campaigns, and community dialogues addressing myths around childhood cancer. In Ghana, outreach at Kaneshie Market brought healthcare professionals, students, caregivers, and community members together for direct conversations on early detection. In Malawi, collaboration with the Blood Transfusion Service helped address critical blood shortages through donation drives. 

Program visits to Ghana, Malawi, and Nepal strengthened partnerships and reviewed progress on the ground. In Malawi, visits to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and shared care centres highlighted innovations in diagnostics, palliative care, and rural access. In Nepal, engagement with B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital reinforced the importance of decentralised care, with over 250 children diagnosed there this year alone.

 

We published a short film which follows Bernice Ali, a Child Life Specialist at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ghana. Through play, storytelling, and tools such as Xploro, Bernice helps children understand their treatment, reducing fear and supporting emotional wellbeing. This work was made possible through UK Aid Match, with public donations matched by the UK government. Watch the full video.

We also shared a film featuring childhood cancer survivors from Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Malawi. Supported by Amgen, the film captures stories of resilience, trust in care, and hope beyond treatment – reinforcing that with the right support, life beyond childhood cancer is possible. Watch the video to hear directly from survivors.

We proudly launched our Strategy 2025–2030: Locally Led, Globally Connected, setting out four strategic pillars – Early & Accurate Diagnosis; Treatment & Care; Child Wellbeing & Family Support; and Advocacy & Communications – guiding our work for the years ahead. Discover our Strategy 2025 – 2030.

 

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM) in 2025 was marked by  locally led activities across World Child Cancer’s program countries. Working hand in hand with healthcare professionals, caregivers, survivors, community leaders, and partners, our teams focused on raising awareness of early warning signs, reducing stigma, and showing solidarity with children and families affected by cancer. 

• In Ghana, CCAM activities included public festivals, school quizzes, and wide-reaching media engagement to promote early detection. A standout moment was community outreach at Kaneshie Market in Accra, where healthcare professionals, caregivers, and World Child Cancer staff engaged directly with traders and shoppers. Nursing and midwifery students moved stall to stall, holding one-to-one conversations about early warning signs, supported by partners distributing informative flyers. 

• In Bangladesh, art competitions and nutrition workshops helped lift spirits while educating families about childhood cancer and the importance of supportive care during treatment. 

• Despite political challenges, teams in Nepal continued CCAM outreach in schools and communities, demonstrating resilience and commitment to ensuring families still received vital information and support. 

• In Cameroon, survivors proudly took part in “Back to School After Chemotherapy” celebrations, receiving bravery certificates that recognised both their strength and their determination to continue their education. 

• In Myanmar, students at a local school created handmade cards filled with messages of encouragement and hope for children undergoing cancer treatment. 

• Meanwhile, in Malawi, a “Big Walk” and targeted media outreach brought childhood cancer awareness onto the streets of Blantyre. In collaboration with Malawi Blood Transfusion Services, the team also organized a blood donation drive and community dialogue to address common myths and beliefs surrounding childhood cancer, helping to strengthen both awareness and practical support. 

We continued our work with partners in Nepal to strengthen the Shared Care Network for childhood cancer, bringing hospitals, government, and partners together to improve referral pathways and coordination.

By enabling care to take place closer to home, the network helps reduce treatment abandonment and better support children and families. This work was made possible through the Foundation S – My Child Matters program.

Finally, community-level initiatives such as Early Warning Signs training for Female Community Health Volunteers in Nepal reinforced our commitment to strengthening early diagnosis where it matters most – within communities themselves. 

In November 2025, World Child Cancer supported a national survivorship event in Nepal, bringing together survivors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. The gathering created space for beneficiaries to share experiences, raise awareness, and reinforce the importance of long-term follow-up and psychosocial support. Moments like these help ensure that care for children with cancer continues beyond treatment, supporting families and survivors as they rebuild their futures.

A major clinical milestone was the first review meeting on the standardisation of the Burkitt Lymphoma treatment protocol, held on 18 December 2025. Made possible through the transformational collaboration with Amgen, this meeting marked an important step toward harmonising clinical practices and improving treatment outcomes across participating centres in Nepal.

The event was organized by World Child Cancer in collaboration with the Ramesh Gupta Memorial Trust and Together Against Childhood Cancer, mapping referral pathways, aligning protocols, and sharing best practices. This progress reflects our continued focus on improving equitable access to quality diagnosis, treatment, and care for children with Burkitt Lymphoma across Nepal.

Looking Ahead 

As we close 2025, we do so with optimism. Each achievement this year reflects collaboration, and belief in a future where every child can survive and thrive.