Category: communication strategy

6 Awards for Kapa3 at the 4th Vouliagmeni Summer Crossing: Is There Such a Thing as a “Lonely Race”?

The Cancer Guidance Center – Kapa3 participated with great joy and emotion in the 4th Vouliagmeni Summer Swimming Crossing, an important sports and community event organised by the Vouliagmeni Nautical Club.

This year’s participation was particularly meaningful for all of us. The Kapa3 team received 6 awards, sharing a powerful message of participation, endurance, empowerment and togetherness.

But beyond the awards, what we hold most deeply is the message:

Is there really such a thing as a “lonely race”?

For us at Kapa3, the answer lies in our choice. And our choice is togetherness.

Despoina brought the idea — and much more.
Eirini stayed until the very end.

Leoni, Kalliopi, Giorgos, Christoforos, Athina, Christiana and Aria stood together as a true Winning Team.

They competed in every category, participated in every activity, informed, supported and left their own mark of empowerment, endurance and hope.

Leoni, Kalliopi, Giorgos, Christoforos, Athina, Christiana and Aria stood together as a true Winning Team.

They competed in every category, participated in every activity, informed, supported and left their own mark of empowerment, endurance and hope.

For Kapa3, the 6 awards are not only an athletic distinction. They are a symbol. They represent the power of effort, the importance of persistence and the value of community in every difficult journey.

ust as in the sea, the cancer journey requires rhythm, breath, emotional strength and people by our side. Even when a struggle feels personal, it does not have to be — and should never be — lonely.

Kapa3’s participation in the Vouliagmeni Crossing was an act of presence and awareness. It was a way to remind everyone that support for cancer patients, caregivers and families is not limited to information or access to rights and services. It is also about creating a community that stands beside people, encourages them and reminds them that they are not alone.

The sea carries a powerful symbolism. It represents the journey, uncertainty, effort, endurance, but also freedom. Every participant in the Crossing carries their own story, their own effort and their own path. For us at Kapa3, this image is deeply connected to the experience of people affected by cancer.

At Kapa3, we know that the experience of cancer is not limited to treatment. It is connected to everyday life, emotional resilience, access to information, rights, social benefits, transportation, work, family, uncertainty and the need for human presence.

This is why every community action we participate in has a dual purpose: to inform and to unite. To make visible the need for equal access to care, while also reminding everyone that support is not an abstract concept. It is presence. It is care. It is listening. It is guidance. It is the hand that helps someone keep going.

The 4th Vouliagmeni Summer Crossing was another moment of outreach, participation and empowerment for Kapa3. A moment that showed that strength is not found only at the finish line, but also in the decision to start, to try and to keep going.

We are grateful for the support, the care, the participation and the result.

We warmly thank the Vouliagmeni Nautical Club for organising the event, as well as everyone who participated, supported and stood beside us in this initiative.

We continue to choose togetherness at Kapa3.

Because even when a race is individual, it should never be lonely.

MELODIC: Advancing Mental Health Support for Young Adults with Cancer

The MELODIC project, a European programme focused on the mental health of young adults with lived experience of cancer, launched in September 2024 with the aim of strengthening the mental wellbeing of people aged 18–35, as well as their families. Through collaboration among six European countries, MELODIC combines research, educational activities, and the development of future interventions, promoting a more supportive and personalised approach to care.

MELODIC has already delivered significant outcomes, including outputs related to project management, needs assessment, interview-based research, and the training of healthcare professionals, while preparing upcoming intervention actions and communication and policy strategies.

KEY DELIVERABLES – WHAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED SO FAR

WP1 – Project Management & Quality Assurance

Deliverable 1.1 – Project Implementation Manual:
A management and quality monitoring guide defining implementation requirements, organisational structures, and partner roles.

Deliverable 1.2 – Quality Report:
A quality assurance report outlining procedures to ensure clarity, consistency, and timely delivery of project outputs.

WP2 – Needs Assessment

Deliverable 2.1 – Data Management Plan:
Assessment of the mental health and educational needs of young adults and healthcare professionals, in full compliance with data protection requirements.

Deliverable 2.3 – Interview Study Report:
A comprehensive interview-based study involving young adults, family members, and healthcare professionals across six countries, conducted with ethical approval and presenting key findings.

WP3 – Co-design Guide & Training

Deliverable 3.1 – MELODIC Curriculum:
A training programme for healthcare professionals at EQF level 7, focusing on the identification and support of the psychosocial and mental health needs of young adults with cancer. The curriculum includes learning objectives, training materials, assessment methods, and certification.

WHAT’S NEXT – UPCOMING DELIVERABLES AND ACTIONS

WP4 – Intervention Study

Deliverable D4.1 – Ethical Review:
Ethical approval for the intervention study aiming to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young adults with cancer and their families. The intervention will combine physical activity in natural environments with psychoeducation and informational support.

WP5 – Communication & Policy

Deliverable 5.1 – Communication Strategy:
A communication strategy outlining channels, target audiences, and publication plans for the internal and external dissemination of project results.

Deliverable 5.2 – Policy Outreach Strategy:
A policy engagement strategy at European and national level, including policy and stakeholder mapping and three intervention pillars (European, National, and Project-specific). The aim is to integrate MELODIC training into curricula and to enhance the project’s visibility at European level.

OUR PARTICIPATION IN MELODIC

As part of our active involvement, we have contributed to the production of key deliverables, particularly in data collection through interviews and in the development of the training curriculum for healthcare professionals. Our engagement ensures that the voices of young adults with lived experience of cancer and their families are taken into account at every stage of the project.

For more information and full access to MELODIC deliverables, please visit the project’s official website here.

Text/adaptation: Ifiyenia Anastasiou for Kapa3