Headline acts at Untold Festival including Sam Smith, Martin Garrix, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Alok, Tujamo, Zerb, Nicky Romero and many more met backstage with groups of young people living with and beyond cancer, in meet-and-greets organised by patient advocacy group Youth Cancer Europe (YCE). Untold, held annually in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, is one of Eastern Europe’s largest music gatherings and holds the #3 spot in DJ Mag’s list of the world’s best festivals, with a sister event also taking place in Dubai during the winter.
The festival coincided with the largest meeting of the European Network of Youth Cancer Survivors, organised by Youth Cancer Europe, and which brought together 175 participants, associated partners, and people living with and beyond cancer from a record 32 countries to celebrate the accomplishments of an ambitious, two-year project co-funded by the European Union. It featured networking events and workshops covering topics such as Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) cancer care, Mental Health, Quality of Life, Cancer Survivorship, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) in cancer care, and more.
Untold Festival has been welcoming Youth Cancer Europe members since its opening edition in 2015, marking a long-standing partnership in which young people affected by cancer from all over the continent have had the chance to meet and chat with their favourite music stars.
As part of the European Network of Youth Cancer Survivors project, YCE recently launched a Policy Paper at the European Parliament in Brussels, focusing on the group’s research into EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) in cancer care, with actionable recommendations. EDI in cancer care aims to reduce disparities, promote health equity, and improve the quality of care and outcomes for all individuals impacted by cancer.
A study led by the patient organisation, published earlier this year, found that one in 10 young cancer patients in Europe experiences or witnesses instances of discrimination due to race, gender, ethnicity, sociocultural background or religion during their treatment, despite the existence of policies and practices in place to avoid such incidents.
The discussions at the European Parliament had a strong focus on the needs of minorities and the especially vulnerable disenfranchised groups, such as ethnic minorities including Roma, the LGBTQ community, migrants, and other underserved populations across the continent – which stars at Untold meeting with YCE members felt deeply touched by.
As part of the two-year project, YCE launched a toolkit and training programme earlier this summer, designed to equip healthcare professionals with essential skills and awareness to address prejudice, and tailor cancer care to underserved groups.
For more information about Youth Cancer Europe please visit www.youthcancereurope.org.