4th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Oncology

European Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOP Europe) in partnership with Childhood Cancer International Europe held their annual meeting at the Valencia Conference Centre.

Another major challenge was to attract and motivate more than a thousand people to participate and to feel involved, empowered and motivated to continue working to make a difference in the lives of all children and adolescents, survivors and their families.

Throughout the conference, there were plenary sessions, workshops, and interactive forums. Examples of good practice were discussed and up-to-date information on projects that CCI Europe also participate in was presented. In addition, specialists were able to discuss current priorities and needs within the study of childhood cancer, highlighting the importance of working in collaboration to progress and achieve our goals.

The capacity and flexibility of the Conference Centre’s rooms allowed for the parallel hosting of all the conference sessions and the latest technology to be employed, using new, more interactive, and sustainable formats in open-plan spaces. The meetings held in the exhibition hall made use of cardboard seating and portable screens with LED technology.

In recognition to the conference’s social aims, the conference organisers placed a wishing tree at the entrance to the Valencia Conference Centre. Attendees wrote their biggest wishes on a piece of paper and hung it on the tree, resulting in hundreds of requests being hung up.
Luisa Basset, a member of the Childhood Cancer International Europe Executive Committee, wanted to emphasise that this was an incredible opportunity to bring all the specialists together in one space. The gathering’s main challenge was achieving an interactive format together with everyone invested in improving the survival rate of childhood cancer.

The Conference also organised a charity run in the Turia Gardens, which raised money for Childhood Cancer International Europe.
Finally, the number of attendees who were fathers, mothers, survivors, and patient representatives from European childhood cancer organisations was higher than pre-pandemic levels.