Q. Why is it important to have an organisation like World Child Cancer?

A. The great advances made in the care of children with cancer in resource-rich countries have only highlighted the plight of those in resource-limited countries. Twinning resource-rich with resource-limited countries – sharing expertise, technology, education and some funding – has been shown to help. Empowering locals to work collaboratively to develop services is the key to success and, once established, external financial support can be gradually reduced. So we need relatively modest input initially to help colleagues around the world develop their own sustainable cancer services. For the first time, an organisation such as World Child Cancer can provide this sustainability.

Q. What is your own background?

A. Having qualified as a doctor in 1970, I trained in pediatrics and then hematology and oncology. I was privileged to work in the era when we were developing the services in the UK for children with cancer. I have served as Chairman of the UK Children’s Cancer Study Group and of the Medical Research Council Childhood Leukaemia Working Party. As President of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology, I was involved in twinning programs in Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa.

Q. How did you become personally involved in the field of childhood cancer?

A. As a medical student three aspects of clinical work excited me: pediatrics, psychiatry and hematology. Further training and specialisation led me to the field of childhood leukaemia and cancer and I have never looked back.

Q. Why do you feel this particular cause is so important?

A. Through my role in the International Society of Paediatric Oncology since the 1970s, I recognised the needs in other countries and have attempted to share my own knowledge and experience with them. As a pediatrician, it is difficult to see children suffering with no supportive and palliative care available – let alone treatment which might be quite easily capable of curing them. To develop simple strategies to help young children - and support medical and nursing colleagues worldwide to do that – seems to be a very logical and appropriate cause. Indeed not to help would seem to be totally wrong.

Q. Can a difference really be made?

A. Yes! The most important thing is to empower local people in each country to develop the will to try to cure childhood cancer. World Child Cancer can provide the stimulus and initial funding for sustainable projects that will make a real and lasting difference.

Q. What stops things working at present in lower income countries?

A. Individual, community and national limited resources and poverty are the major causes for no investment in childhood cancer services in these countries. In many countries the lack of awareness of cancer and its potential curability is a major obstacle. Overcoming that ignorance is crucial. Raising awareness, overcoming hopelessness and starting simply with a desire to support children and their families and give good palliative care will lead on to development of curative care.

Q. What can others do to help make this a success?

A. Success in these projects depends on all concerned recognising that they can make a difference to individual children – but that they need the expertise of those who have travelled this journey before. Those who have developed services elsewhere can share their expertise via twinning programs and give real chance to young people with leukaemia and cancer worldwide.