How support and modern research save children's lives

Every year, around 2,200 children and adolescents in Germany receive the harrowing diagnosis of cancer. In Hamburg and the surrounding area alone, this affects around 160 children. Although the cure rate is currently around 80%, the price of recovery is very high.

Those affected and their families face a long and difficult journey, characterized by intensive therapies, countless hospital stays and major emotional and financial challenges. But they are not alone: The Fördergemeinschaft Kinderkrebs-Zentrum Hamburg e.V. has stood by their side for almost 50 years. With its work, the association creates better conditions for treatment, provides support for families and funds important research projects to better understand and treat childhood cancer.

Medical care at the highest level

The Children's Cancer Center Hamburg is one of the largest of its kind in Germany. Around 600 young patients are treated there every year — both inpatients and outpatients. Thanks to the support of the funding association, measures can be implemented that go far beyond the usual framework. This includes additional jobs for doctors and nursing staff as well as the purchase of medical equipment.

Pilot projects such as the TIDE aftercare consultation support children and adolescents after their treatment and help them get back to their everyday lives. Sports therapy, which is offered during and after therapy, is also an important component. Because exercise not only promotes physical recovery, but also helps children regain their self-confidence and zest for life. Such initiatives are possible because the funding association decides on the funding of projects in close coordination with hospital management.

Create a temporary home

For many families, the Children's Cancer Center Hamburg becomes a second home during treatment. A diagnosis of cancer throws your entire life off track. Parents are faced with the challenge of balancing work, siblings and intensive care for their sick child. In addition, there are financial burdens that may arise as a result of absences from work, travel expenses or special medical needs.

The Fördergemeinschaft relieves families in a variety of ways. This includes financing psychosocial services such as music and art therapy, which helps children express their feelings and deal better with the stressful situation. Sisters' days and parents' evenings create space for exchange and support. The association also supports families in need of help who are in financial need as a result of their child's illness.

Hope for the future

Advances in childhood cancer research have significantly improved the survival chances of children with cancer in recent decades. But there is no 100% chance of recovery and the side effects and long-term consequences are sometimes serious. Therefore, research into the disease remains extremely important. Because even though intensive cancer research is already being carried out, childhood tumours are fundamentally different from those of adults. They require specially adapted diagnostic and therapeutic approaches that are tailored to the needs of young patients.

The funding association recognized this need early on and founded the Children's Cancer Center Hamburg Research Institute in 2006. This facility is an important milestone in the fight against childhood cancer. Intensive research is being carried out here on the molecular basis of childhood cancer development in order to develop new, targeted therapies that are more effective and cause fewer side effects. The research institute works closely with renowned partners such as the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) and the Heinrich Pette Institute.

However, funding and public awareness for research are limited due to the relatively low number of cases. Childhood cancer research is all the more dependent on support from donors.

A special commitment under #Knackdenkrebs

With the hashtag #Knackdenkrebs, the support community draws attention to its work and calls for people to participate in this commitment. Every contribution counts — whether through donations, volunteers, or sharing information. Together, we can help to further reduce childhood cancer and give affected families back a bit of hope and normality.

As part of the Christmas campaign “#SpendenStattSchenken”, IP Dynamics donates to the funding community to support their important work.

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