Cypriots, health advocates march to raise awareness of childhood cancer

Cypriots and health advocates marched in Brussels to raise awareness of childhood cancer ahead of Cyprus's turn at the helm of the Council of the European Union next year.

The group marched to support the Little Heroes Foundation for children with leukaemia and other forms of cancer, which launched its work in 2017 on the initiative of Cypriot MEP Loukas Fourlas from the European People's Party. It formally became a foundation in 2021.

The group aims to provide psychological and financial support to the families of children suffering from leukaemia and other cancers who are being treated at the Makario Hospital in Cyprus or are abroad for treatment.

At the event over the weekend, organisers hailed the foundation's work and pushed for childhood cancer to be high on the agenda when Cyprus takes the Council presidency in January.

"This is the first time we have walked for the little heroes in Brussels and we are very, very proud," said Marina Savvidou, one of the event's organisers and a policy advisor at the European Parliament.

The European Society for Paediatric Oncology also attended the first Brussels walk, which aimed to send the message that Cyprus can lead the way on health and rally public awareness on issues such as childhood cancer.

Childhood cancer is a leading cause of death for children and teenagers, with an estimated 14,000 new diagnoses and 2,000 deaths per year in the EU.

The most common types include include leukemias, brain tumours, lymphomas, and solid tumours, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

"It is therefore important that people realise that this is a major public health issue in Europe today," said Kira Sheehan, strategy officer at the European Society for Paediatric Oncology.

Savvidou, meanwhile, emphasised that with the Brussels walk, "the message is going where it needs to go".

"No child should have to fight cancer alone," she added.