To coincide with Childhood Cancer Day, the Swiss Paediatric Oncology Group (SPOG) is delighted to announce that it has been able to recruit Pony M and Jann Billeter – two popular Swiss celebrities – as ambassadors for childhood cancer research.
Around 350 children and adolescents develop cancer in Switzerland every year. A diagnosis of childhood cancer inevitably used to mean death. However, thanks to clinical cancer research, it is now possible to successfully treat an average of almost nine out of ten children, a success story that is a source of encouragement for patients and their families alike.
SPOG will have greater support going forward in its efforts to highlight the significance of clinical childhood cancer research and make it more accessible to the public:
Yonni Moreno Meyer, also known as Pony M, regularly writes columns and blogs about a wide range of subjects connected with everyday life as a mother, from love to politics and social commentary. She has published four books of her writings and tours German-speaking Switzerland as an author – currently with her “OH BABY” programme. She has this to say about becoming an ambassador: “Since I became a mother, my heart has been walking around outside my body. The fact that my child is healthy is an unbelievable privilege. So let’s support everyone who isn’t so fortunate.”
TV presenter and former ice hockey player Jann Billeter has been a household name in Switzerland for many years. He is currently to be seen on the MySports channel, presenting and commentating on coverage of the Swiss ice hockey championships. Before that he spent 24 years with the Swiss broadcasting company SRF, presenting programmes such as Sportpanorama, Sport aktuell and Einstein. Using clinical research to improve the chances of a cure for children and adolescents with cancer is a subject particularly close to Jann Billeter’s heart. “I’m a father myself, so I know how awful the idea of losing a child is. That’s why I’m supporting SPOG and childhood cancer research – so that as few parents as possible have to face this prospect.”
Both our ambassadors agree that improving the quality of life and chances of a cure for children and adolescents with cancer is matter of personal importance to them. That’s why Yonni Moreno Meyer and Jann Billeter are making a stand for children with cancer by actively supporting SPOG’s childhood cancer research.
