Three Years of Aladina with Ukraine: A Journey of Solidarity and Hope

Fundación Aladina’s Ongoing Support for Ukrainian Families Facing Pediatric Cancer

Since 2021, Fundación Aladina has been providing comprehensive support to Ukrainian children with cancer and their families. What began as an emergency response to evacuate the first children in need of treatment has since evolved into a long-term commitment to their care and well-being. Ever since, Aladina has continued to stand by these families, ensuring they receive not only medical attention but also housing, psychological support, and assistance with integration. This effort reflects the foundation’s broader mission: to be there for children with cancer worldwide, especially in times of extreme crisis and vulnerability.

Leading Evacuation and Assistance Efforts in Spain

From the very beginning, Aladina took on the challenge of managing the evacuation of the first Ukrainian children with cancer to Spain, working in coordination with the Spanish Society of Pediatric Oncology (SEHOP), Safer Ukraine, and other organizations. As highlighted in Aladina’s crowdfunding campaign, Ukraine was facing a devastating crisis, leaving many children unable to access the treatment they urgently needed.

In response, the foundation launched a Rescue Fund with an initial endowment of €250,000. Thanks to overwhelming generosity and solidarity, the fundraising goal was greatly surpassed, allowing Aladina to help even more children and families than initially planned.

Ongoing Support, Every Single Day

Aladina’s work goes beyond evacuation—its commitment continues through comprehensive assistance that ensures families receive both medical and emotional support. The foundation coordinates:

• Specialized Medical Care: Aladina collaborates closely with leading hospitals—including Niño Jesús, 12 de Octubre, La Paz, and Gregorio Marañón in Madrid, as well as centers in Barcelona, Valencia, and other cities—to guarantee access to top-quality oncological treatments.
• Housing and Logistics: After evacuation, the foundation ensures that families have safe, comfortable housing near hospitals. As detailed in Aladina con Ucrania updates, this support has made a profound difference for children like Dymitro, Maxim, Pollina, Anna, Nikita, Julia, and many others, offering them a true “home away from home.”
• Psychosocial and Educational Support: Aladina provides ongoing assistance through mental health professionals, Spanish language classes, and legal support to help families integrate as smoothly as possible into their new environment.

Coordinated Efforts in Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia

Fundación Aladina is incredibly proud to have successfully managed the arrival of groups of children and their families in various cities across Spain, ensuring they could continue their cancer treatments in safe and caring environments:

• In Madrid, Aladina has taken full care of 35 families, providing them with personalized support from the moment they arrived. Initially, the foundation welcomed and assisted 25 children and their families, followed by an additional 10 families in the months that followed. Even today, Aladina continues to support some families as they navigate their new reality.
• In Barcelona, the foundation organized the arrival of 16 Ukrainian children, working closely with SEHOP, Fundación Villavecchia, Fundación Josep Carreras, and other organizations. Read more about this effort in our article on the arrival of a plane carrying 16 children.
• In Valencia, on March 28, 2022, Aladina coordinated the arrival of 14 children and their families, ensuring they could continue their cancer treatments at pediatric oncology units. More details here.

A Commitment That Endures

The heartfelt gratitude of the families Aladina supports reflects the dedication put into every aspect of this work. Thanks to widespread generosity and the collective effort of the Aladina family, the foundation is proud to continue fulfilling its mission: ensuring that wherever there is a child with cancer, Aladina will be there.

Thank you for trusting Aladina and for standing together on this journey. The foundation will keep working every day to improve the lives of these children and their families.

Summary Video

In this video, Paco Arango, president of Fundación Aladina, shares the story of how Ukrainian families with children battling cancer were welcomed and cared for. Watch now.