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Partnerships

EuropaColon is an independent non-profit organisation whose goals and aims are safeguarded by its constitution.

In today's world there are few families that are not touched by one of the approximately 200 types of cancer. Colorectal cancer is the highest incidence cancer in Europe. Around 13% of all new cancer cases are colorectal and after lung cancer it is the biggest cancer-killer (200,000 deaths in Europe per year). Whereas  smoking is fortunately on the decline in Europe, lifestyle causes of colorectal cancer – obesity, lack of physical exercise and poor diet are on the increase. In addition colorectal cancer is predominantly a disease of the over 50’s and combined with an increasing ageing population in Europe this will inevitably lead to even more cases of the disease in the future.

Approximately half of the people diagnosed with colorectal cancer today will eventually die from it.
However the disease is highly curable if diagnosed early. Early detection through screening and appropriate treatment at an early stage makes a significant difference.

EuropaColon has contributed to saving lives from colorectal cancer but there is a lot more that still has to be done.

Maximising our funding streams is a crucial part of EuropaColon's development and strategic plan in the fight against this highly treatable disease. We are constantly looking at securing more responsive and flexible forms of funding.

Mission, Goals and Activities

This mission statement leads to the relentless pursuit of the following goals:

In the pursuit of these goals, EuropaColon has established a pan-European community of 24 national affiliate and associate groups that represent 82% of the European population and 93% of the EU population.

Operations and Funding

As an independent Not for Profit organisation, EuropaColon relies on the support of those who share our goals and values and who understand the importance of our actions.

We strongly believe in the significance of not being dependent on one particular stakeholder group or source of income.  Our sources of income to date include donations, in-kind support, one-off project funding and most importantly sustained partnership funding.

EuropaColon is very grateful for the support it has received to date from its partners.  Through constructive cooperation with many stakeholders it has given us the opportunity to continue with our  programme of delivery.

The following are examples of specific activities for which we are in need of funding:

• Pan-European awareness campaigns to increase public awareness and understanding of colorectal cancer, its causes and how it can be prevented. Patient advocates have a crucial role to play in helping promote awareness around colorectal cancer at grassroots level

• Country specific screening workshops aimed at influencing all key stakeholders to introduce Formal Population Screening Programmes across Europe and most importantly to achieve compliance to such programmes. (Population based prevention must be a pillar of any efforts to reduce the colorectal cancer burden in the long term)

• Active lobbying at national level and in Brussels (EU) as well as awareness activities and regular and close interaction with European media. It is a priority for EuropaColon to be able to support our groups to carry out effective lobbying activities in order to influence access and equity of access to best care and treatment across Europe including through a biennial colorectal cancer patient conference.

• EuropaColon has recently formed a consensus group composed of patients and representatives of patient groups from 21 European countries. The group meets regularly and has reached consensus on certain opinions and action points, currently being formulated into a White Paper. We believe this consensus group to be unique and it represents the VOICE of colorectal cancer patients in Europe.

• Clinical trials are essential in order to make scientific progress towards better treatments. EuropaColon works as a mediator between patients and medical institutions to ensure ethical standards and participates in recruitment of suitable patients where possible.

Present and future shortcomings in cancer prevention, early detection and treatment within and between Member States remains the key focus of EuropaColon’s work.

Who Can Become a Partner of EuropaColon?

• All private and public companies - we believe that we can meet our targets and objectives more efficiently by combining our own unique skills and assets with those of corporate partners
• Private individuals - no donation is too small and can be made on a pan-European or national level
• All organisations, political, governmental, NGO or otherwise that, directly or indirectly, support our mission of preventing deaths from colorectal cancer and improving the lives of those affected by the disease.

Ethical Standards

• All activities conducted by EuropaColon are directed solely by the mission statement and underlying goals at the discretion of its Directors. However the best results occur when activities are conducted in equal partnership with sponsors, partners and other stakeholders.
• EuropaColon is free of any political affiliations
• Any action by EuropaColon that can be perceived as an endorsement of a specific product or service is based solely on the scientific merits of that product or service
• EuropaColon and its partners use each others’ names in external communication only after specific agreement
• For reasons of transparency, EuropaColon will publicly acknowledge all partners support in EPDA publications, web site, media announcements and events where appropriate

Click here to view our policies