Advocacy in Action Award & The “Paola Gonzato Memory Award” 2025
🏆 2025 Advocacy in Action Awards – Recognizing Excellence in Sarcoma Advocacy Projects
SPAGN is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Advocacy in Action Awards, presented during the SPAGN Annual Conference 2025. These awards celebrate innovative and impactful advocacy projects that have made a significant difference in the sarcoma community.
This year’s winning initiatives reflect the strength and creativity of patient advocacy—from raising public awareness to influencing national health policy and driving clinical change.
2025 Award Recipients
🥇 1st Place – €2000
ASARGA (Spain): “Sarcoma: Bringing the Invisible into Focus”
A nationwide campaign tackling disparities in sarcoma care across Spain. Through strategic political engagement, ASARGA succeeded in securing a unanimously approved non-legislative proposal in the Spanish Congress and mobilized over 3,000 supporters through a national manifesto. Their goal: to turn advocacy into lasting legislative change by 2026.
🥈 2nd Place – €1500
Patiënten platform Sarcomen (Netherlands): “Only Together: From Nothing to Treatment Protocol. Financing Research.”
This patient-led initiative addressed a critical gap in information on phyllodes tumors. By building expert partnerships and funding research, the project led to the development of national Dutch treatment guidelines—officially adopted in January 2024.
🥉 3rd Place – €500
BCRT & Sarcoma UK (UK): “The National Sarcoma Awareness Project”
A competition and fellowship program aimed at medical students and resident doctors, designed to improve early recognition of sarcoma and foster future clinical interest.
🎗️ Paola Gonzato Memory Award 2025
Established in memory of Paola Gonzato and supported by the Fondazione Paola Gonzato Rete Sarcoma ETS (Italy), this award honors impactful bone sarcoma advocacy at a national or regional level.
🏅 Winner: BCRT (UK): “Bone Cancer Awareness Week 2024 – Ever Heard of Bone Cancer?”
This public awareness campaign used patient stories, a dedicated awareness ribbon, and community outreach to amplify the voice of the bone sarcoma community. With wide public engagement and national visibility, the campaign helped spark new conversations and connections across the UK.
We congratulate all award recipients for their creativity, determination, and commitment to advancing sarcoma advocacy.