Luisa Basset: “I will always be available for any task or working group the CCI board thinks I can contribute to”
This year, Luisa Basset completes a fruitful nine-year tenure on the CCI board. During her time with us, she has witnessed the organisation's growth and has been an essential part of various projects driven during this period. What does she hope for in the coming years, and how will she remain connected to the work for childhood cancer? Find all the details in this interview.
1. How many years were you a part of CCI's board, and how would you describe your work during this period?
I have been a member of the CCI board for 9 years, from October 2014 to October 2023. During this time, I have held the position of Board Secretary. From this position, I have been in charge of writing the minutes of board meetings and annual general assemblies and of safeguarding and classifying all the CCI documents and files (financial and annual reports, membership registry, memorandums of understanding with stakeholders, awareness campaigns, etc.). During these 9 years, I have also been responsible for the membership portfolio, coordinating the latest membership data update and the new applications, among others. In addition, I have been part of the organising committee of the annual conference since 2016, I have participated in several working groups representing CCI in the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer of WHO and have been involved in some CCI projects such as, for instance, the Knowledge portal.
2. What changes have you witnessed in the institution? How has it evolved?
I was involved in the foundation of CCI (formerly ICCCPO) in 1994 in Valencia and since then I’ve seen the number of members and countries represented in CCI increasing, year after year. CCI is on the way to setting up a professional structure, having now an administrative officer and an executive director. Also, the efforts in communication in the last years have been fruitful: CCI has built a community in social media, and the awareness campaigns are reaching more and more people. The development of the regions and the projects in which they are involved is also relevant. The cooperation and alignment between the regions and CCI global are improving, for the benefit of our members. Over the years, CCI has built a collaborative partnership with key stakeholders such as SIOP, WHO, and other organisations, joining forces to achieve CCI's main goal: to ensure equal access to the best possible treatment and care worldwide. Currently, CCI is involved in projects and initiatives (GICC, Aria, etc.) that will change the future of children/adolescents with cancer and the survivors. Last but not least, I would like to mention that CCI is now in a position to directly help our members by means of different initiatives and programs such as the CCI and Foundation S "Home Away From Home" program.
3. What would you like for the future of CCI?
I would like CCI to be a strong organisation, financially sustainable with a professional structure, being able to mobilise resources to develop programs and actions to support our members and their communities. Our member organisations are contributing directly to improve the quality of life of children and adolescents with cancer, the survivors, and the families, providing psychosocial and peer support, financial support, accommodation, etc. It is fundamental to have such a supportive structure in all the countries. I would like CCI to be able to help our members by developing and strengthening their capacity, by identifying and sharing best practices and initiatives to be implemented locally and/or nationally, etc., in summary, having a significant impact on the lives of children and adolescents with cancer, the survivors, and their families. On the other hand, I would like CCI to be fully considered as the representative of the parents, patients, and survivors, not only as their voice but as an irreplaceable partner whose expertise has to be taken into account as valuable and essential to reduce inequalities, improve survival rates, and ensure a better future for survivors.
4. Will you continue to collaborate with the cause in any way? How?
My eldest son was diagnosed with cancer in 1990 at the age of 4. Since then, I’ve been involved on a volunteering basis in regional, national, and international patient advocacy and will continue to do so. Currently, I serve as vice president of Aspanion (childhood cancer parent association based in Valencia region, Spain) and as a board member of Federación Española de Padres de Niños con Cáncer, an organisation from which I’m the international representative since 2005. I am the vice-chair of CCI-Europe Committee where I’m the head of the Capacity Development Pillar, being involved in working groups of several EU projects. I represent CCI-Europe in WECAN (Workgroup of European Cancer Patient Advocacy Networks) and since 2016 I’m ePAG representative and member of the Oversight Committee of the ERN PaedCan (European Reference Network for Paediatric Oncology). At an international level, I will always be available for any task or working group the CCI board thinks I can contribute to.