WCC header image

Our Vision and Mission

We see a world where every child with cancer has access to the best possible treatment and care.

World Child Cancer works in low to middle income countries to save the lives of children with cancer and reduce their suffering.

  • We raise awareness of the early symptoms of child cancer and improve diagnosis;
  • We improve survival rates through better treatment;
  • We increase access to treatment programmes;
  • We improve emotional and practical support for children and their families;
  • We help to develop long-term sustainability after the period of the grant;
  • And we provide palliative care where a cure is no longer possible.

Our work follows the tried and tested model developed by our partner, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, acclaimed for pioneering life-saving cures for children with cancer in the US. Over the last ten years St Jude has been working on outreach projects in Central America with very successful results. For example, medics from St Jude worked with doctors at Hospital Bloom in El Salvador and increased survival rates from virtually nil to over 50% and reduced abandonment of treatment from 60% to only 10%.

  • We facilitate and develop twinning partnerships in which vital medical expertise is transferred from an experienced paediatric oncology centre in a resource rich country to doctors and nurses in a paediatric oncology unit in a developing country.
  • Our medical trustees and parent/patient experts provide advice and guidance on strategic planning, development of treatment protocols & the creation of family support groups.
  • We provide seed-funding for each project for five years for drugs and equipment; additional doctors, nurses and support staff; training; facilities; and public awareness campaigns.
  • We plan for the long-term sustainability of each programme by identifying new funding sources and leveraging support by demonstrating the impact of funding. In addition, we empower the local parent support group to fundraise locally by offering training and advice.

Our Vision and Mission

"Children with cancer in developing countries have not received much attention or support. Other challenges such as HIV/AIDS or tuberculosis have overwhelmed health services. However, many children with cancer can be cured.  It costs only £40 to provide the drugs to save a child with Burkitts lymphoma in Malawi. A little money really does go a long way."
Professor Elizabeth Molyneux OBE, Paediatric Consultant, Queen Elizabeth Centre Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi