September in Gold: News from Our Awardees
In September 2025, ALTRAD Solidarity launched its first call for projects dedicated to childhood cancers. Following the review of applications and the selection process, the endowment fund chose to support four organisations, each working in its own way to advance research while also improving care for children with cancer. Here is a reminder of the awardees and an update on the progress of the projects they are carrying out:
• Imagine for Margo
The Imagine for Margo association fights childhood cancer. Founded in 2011, it continues Margo’s initiative by raising awareness and funds to accelerate research, improve our understanding of childhood cancers and develop more effective treatments.
ALTRAD Solidarity chose to provide financial support for the BIOMEDE project, the world’s largest clinical trial dedicated to diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), which is progressing in line with the objectives set. A recruitment rate of 67% reflects the strong momentum of the trial, while regulatory procedures to open the trial in nine new European countries are progressing according to schedule.
Ancillary studies on circulating tumour DNA are opening up promising prospects for the non-invasive monitoring of patients. Imagine for Margo remains an essential strategic partner in bringing this trial to completion, a trial that has already enabled eight children to survive a disease that was previously incurable.
• PHOCEO
PHOCEO is the endowment fund of Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Marseille, supporting the 18,000 healthcare professionals and the one million patients welcomed each year. Founded in the midst of the health crisis in 2020, PHOCEO embodies Marseille’s spirit of solidarity, with nearly €7.7 million raised and almost 160 projects funded.
PHOCEO called on ALTRAD Solidarity to help finance the acquisition of an MRI-Linac dedicated to the paediatric department. This state-of-the-art radiotherapy equipment makes it possible to visualise the tumour in real time during treatment. It offers unprecedented precision, limits exposure of healthy tissue and reduces long-term side effects, including the risk of secondary cancers.
For children, this means the prospect of not only achieving higher cure rates, but also better long-term outcomes. In France, nearly 2,500 children are diagnosed with cancer every year, and more than 80% recover.
To date, the fundraising campaign led by PHOCEO has already raised more than €2 million. One final milestone remains to be reached to secure the €3 million needed.
• Sourire à la Vie
A pioneer in introducing adapted physical activity into paediatric oncology, the Sourire à la Vie association supports children from the moment they are diagnosed, throughout their hospital journey and beyond.
Every day, the association’s teams provide comprehensive support: sport as a genuine part of care, supportive care, nutrition, psychological support and spectacular expeditions to the other side of the world, helping children to look towards the future.
Sourire à la Vie responded to ALTRAD Solidarity’s call for projects with the aim of funding a day centre for children and teenagers. This day programme gives them the opportunity to take part in sports as well as a wide range of other activities.
In just five months of activity in 2026, the association organised 40 days of activities, benefiting 74 children and teenagers.
• Stay Close
As part of its mission, the Belgian association Stay Close aims to facilitate temporary accommodation for caregivers and families of children with cancer by connecting them with host families living close to healthcare facilities.
The programme, to which ALTRAD Solidarity contributes, is delivered through a platform that continues to grow steadily. As of the date of this report, 45 volunteer host families are registered on the platform, 28 of which are active.
In total, 56 beneficiaries have received support and have been able to benefit from 461 overnight stays since the programme was launched.
As ALTRAD Solidarity has just launched its second call for projects, this time dedicated to women’s health, the endowment fund is proud to give its beneficiary organisations the means to pursue their ambitions and, in doing so, to help write more inspiring stories.
Together, let’s build the paths of possibility.
Photo Credit : Association Sourire à la vie