WECAN Retreat 2026: Shaping priorities for the year ahead

Europa Donna’s Executive Director Marzia Zambon and former President Tanja Spanic participated in the annual WECAN retreat, held in Prague on 14–15 April. The two-day meeting brought together 23 umbrella organisations representing European patients across a broad spectrum of cancer types.

The retreat provided an important opportunity to reflect on the first year as a foundation of affiliate organisations: the Board reported on the activities, educational programmes and research projects and participants shared insights, and explored common challenges and goals within the cancer community. Discussions focused on shaping WECAN’s strategic direction and defining clear objectives for the year ahead, with a strong emphasis on addressing patient needs and recognising the diverse realities faced by organisations across countries.

Reflecting on the meeting, Marzia Zambon highlighted a key takeaway: WECAN is more than an “umbrella of umbrellas.” While it brings together an impressive number of organisations and a strong, representative patient voice across Europe, its role is not simply to act as a single overarching body. Instead, its strength lies in the collective knowledge, experience, and shared purpose of its members.

The retreat itself was described as embodying what many might call a “think tank”—though participants identified a more fitting term: collective intelligence. By bringing together engaged and experienced leaders in one space, WECAN creates an environment where ideas are not only exchanged but transformed into action. The focus is not just on discussion, but on working together to drive meaningful change.