This year R&I pillar initiate a mentorship programme marking a significant step towards fostering meaningful patient involvement in research and advocacy. By pairing experienced advocates with talented ones, the initiative builds a pipeline of educated and empowered patient advocates ready to contribute to paediatric oncology research.

Through participation in projects, meetings, and collaborative activities, the program has successfully integrated a mentee into CCI Europe’s work, fostering knowledge sharing and impactful contributions. The initiative highlights the importance of collaboration and capacity-building to advance the pillar’s goals. Other pillars might use this approach in the future to increase their pillar’s membership and active involvement of new patient advocates.

The success of the mentoring programme is clearly reflected in the statements shared by both the mentor and the mentee.

“Mentorship is a vital component of empowering the next generation of patient advocates, ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of our collective efforts. By guiding less experienced advocates, senior advocates help build confidence, transfer knowledge, and foster leadership skills. Mentorship involves collaborative preparation for meetings, attending them together, and conducting debriefs to reflect on outcomes and learnings. These steps, combined with discussions on action plans, next steps, and delegating responsibilities to the mentee, create a structured framework for growth and self-sufficiency.
In my role as a mentor, I am currently collaborating with Willemijn on an important project aimed at harmonising genomic databases across several European countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, France, and the UK. This mentorship not only strengthens Willemijn’s advocacy skills but also ensures the project benefits from diverse perspectives and sustainable leadership. Together, we are building a stronger foundation for impactful patient representation in this critical initiative.”
Delphine Heenen

“For several years, I have mainly been involved in studies focusing on quality of life, emphasizing the patient perspective. The involvement in various international forums and the resulting projects was a new experience for me. The mentorship, as it is implemented, provides me with support in both knowledge and skills. Knowing that I can rely on someone with experience is very important to me, enabling me to work with joy and, in the long term, to function in a meaningful way.”
Willemijn Plieger