Member organisations

ARFEC (Association Romande des Familles d'Enfants atteints d'un Cancer)

ARFEC is the association for families with a child suffering from cancer in Western Switzerland and was founded by parents in 1987. Thanks to ARFEC, a broad network of affected individuals has been established, who help and support one another.

Among other things, ARFEC offers individual support to relieve the burden on families, including accommodation near the hospital and direct financial assistance, and organises meetings, excursions and group discussions.

Childhood Cancer Research Group ISPM (Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine)

The Childhood Cancer Research Group at the University of Berne conducts epidemiological research into cancer in children and adolescents in Switzerland and works closely with the Childhood Cancer Registry (ChCR). The research group investigates possible causes of childhood cancer and follows up on long-term outcomes of people who had cancer as a child or adolescent.

The Childhood Cancer Research Group works closely with researchers from other countries and actively involves people affected by childhood cancer, experts and parent groups.

Kinderkrebshilfe Schweiz

Kinderkrebshilfe Schweiz is the leading self-help organisation in German-speaking Switzerland for children, adolescents and families affected by childhood cancer. The non-profit organisation has been committed to supporting children and adolescents with cancer and their families since 1987. In addition, the regionally organised parent groups of Kinderkrebshilfe Schweiz support, inform and connect families affected by cancer directly on the ward or through group activities and excursions.

Alongside wide-ranging support in the form of holidays, activities, financial assistance, follow-up care services and residential rehabilitation treatment programmes, it also funds research into childhood cancer.

Kinderkrebshilfe Zentralschweiz

Since 1995, Kinderkrebshilfe Zentralschweiz has provided financial, emotional and in-kind support to families of children with cancer in Central Switzerland. In addition to organising meetings and group events that allow families to network and share their experiences, it helps fund a clinical nurse specialist in paediatric oncology to provide optimal care and support to children with cancer and their families.

Swiss Paediatric Oncology Group (SPOG)

The Swiss Paediatric Oncology Group (SPOG) is a non-profit organisation with links throughout the world that pursues patient-oriented cancer research to improve treatment options and quality of life for children and adolescents with cancer. It was originally founded in 1976.

Its members are Swiss hospital departments that look after children and adolescents with cancer and blood disorders. SPOG works throughout Switzerland at the university hospitals in Basel, Berne, Geneva, Lausanne and Zurich and the four children’s hospitals in Aarau, Bellinzona, Lucerne and St. Gallen.

Stiftung für krebskranke Kinder, Regio Basiliensis

The Stiftung für krebskranke Kinder, Regio Basiliensis was founded in 1988 to support families of children undergoing cancer treatment at the University Children’s Hospital Basel (UKBB). The foundation offers fast, unbureaucratic direct assistance with additional costs incurred due to illness—such as for meals, transportation, or domestic help. This enables parents to focus on helping their child recover. The foundation also co-funds the psycho-oncologist at the UKBB, who provides professional support for the children, their parents and siblings during the treatment. Other projects include creative activities, among other things, to improve the quality of life for children in hospital. The foundation is also actively involved in childhood cancer research with the aim of improving treatments and reducing long-term effects. Projects with a connection to the Basel region receive particular support.