Dear colleagues, members, and partners,
Welcome to the New Year! I hope you found the time to unwind and create cherished moments with your loved ones over the festive season.
LOOKING BACK at 2023
Celebrating our 25th anniversary made 2023 especially significant. The year was marked by various “firsts” for our society, such as receiving our first-ever paediatric oncologist Smurf or dressing the iconic Manneken Pis during Gold September 2023. We ended the year of many “firsts” with a wrap-up campaign in December.
Who among you recalls our first SIOPE President, first Strategic Plan, or first Annual Meeting? In December, we celebrated SIOPE’s most remarkable achievements over the past 25 years. Making new friends and further strengthening our network remains a crucial aspect of our ongoing journey as we continue to build connections and expand our collaborative efforts in the coming years.
LOOKING AHEAD to 2024
Every new calendar year marks a time of new beginnings.
With that in mind, we are thrilled to officially launch the European Elections 2024 Manifesto of the paediatric haematology-oncology community “Cure More, Cure Better and Tackle Inequalities - towards Zero Deaths and Zero Late Effects.”
The manifesto will take center stage at the International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) 2024 event on 13 February at the EU Parliament in Brussels. The launch of the manifesto presents a unique moment for Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to express their dedication to the childhood cancer cause. Therefore, we seek the support of key stakeholders in propelling forward our mission for childhood cancer advocacy and we encourage them to solidify their commitment by signing our manifesto.
The year ahead holds promise with numerous activities planned to advance our mission and improve health outcomes for children and adolescents with cancer. We invite you to explore our newsletter for updates on ongoing projects, policy activities, educational initiatives, working groups, and more.
Stay tuned with SIOP Europe – and I hope to see many of you at our upcoming SIOPE Annual Meeting in beautiful Milan.
With my best wishes for a brilliant 2024,
Prof. Carmelo Rizzari
SIOP Europe President