Fujifilm Europe supports the German Foundation for Young Adults with Cancer with a donation

Fujifilm Europe is committed to social responsibility and is sending a strong signal in its support for young adults facing cancer. Starting in June, Fujifilm will support the German Foundation for Young Adults with Cancer (DSFJEMK) with a donation of €15,000. Part of the donation will be used to further increase the visibility of the foundation in Germany. The other part will be used to support the meeting point (‘Treffpunkt’) in Düsseldorf, a local initiative of the foundation that offers young people affected by cancer an opportunity for exchange and support.

“Social commitment is important to us – that's why we support the work of the German Foundation for Young Adults with Cancer. The foundation's work is immensely important as it offers those affected a space for exchange, mutual inspiration and support. We would like to thank the foundation for its important work – and are pleased to support it with a donation,” explains Peter Struik, Executive Vice President of Fujifilm Europe.

Young adults and cancer: an often overlooked group
According to the Center for Cancer Registry Data at the Robert Koch-Institut (RKI), around 504,000 people in Germany were diagnosed with cancer in 2022, including around 16,500 young adults between the ages of 18 and 39. This age group therefore accounts for around 3.2 percent of all new cancer cases each year. The most common types of cancer include breast cancer and bowel cancer. In 2022, there were 3,204 new cases of breast cancer in young women, which accounts for 34.1 percent of all female cancer cases in this age group. In men, 423 new cases of bowel cancer were recorded in the same year - around 6.4 percent of all male cancer cases.¹

"Young adults with cancer face particular challenges - and this in a phase of life that is normally characterized by education, starting a career or the desire to have a family. Our task as a foundation is to provide tailor-made offers precisely in this phase: for exchange, information and long-term support. 

Commitment such as Fujifilm's helps to bring the needs of this often overlooked patient group more into the public eye," says Michael Oldenburg, Chairman of the German Foundation for Young Adults with Cancer.

‘Treffpunkt‘ Düsseldorf: More than just a place for exchange
The regional TREFFPUNKTE (meeting points) of the German Foundation for Young Adults with Cancer offer young people affected by cancer the opportunity to exchange ideas with like-minded people and to support each other. Organized and supported by those affected themselves, the meetings promote personal exchange in a relaxed atmosphere - be it in cafés, parks or other meeting places. In addition to the informal exchange, the TREFFPUNKTE offer space for commitment. Together, young people affected by cancer inform and sensitize the public to topics such as living with cancer and the challenges associated with it. Networking with regional organizations and providers is also part of the TREFFPUNKTE activities. Those affected who are interested in participating can contact the German Foundation for Young Adults with Cancer directly or contact the respective regional groups. Thanks to the close cooperation with the foundation, the TREFFPUNKTE are professionally supervised and medical experts are on hand to answer the groups' technical questions.

 
Contact: TREFFPUNKT Düsseldorf
"A cancer diagnosis throws the lives of many young adults completely off balance. That's why a place like TREFFPUNKT is so important – a space where young people feel understood, where they can talk and simply be themselves. Fujifilm's support is of great importance for our project: it signals to young people that they are seen and that they are not alone. We would like to thank Fujifilm for this valuable partnership!" - Janine Schulze, Project Manager of TREFFPUNKTE, German Foundation for Young Adults with Cancer.

"Supporting the growth of the local Düsseldorf network for young adults with cancer near our European headquarters is part of our aspiration to be a responsible company and an active, committed member of the local community. At the same time, we are pursuing our purpose of “Giving our world more smiles”. We are very proud to support DSFJEMK in contributing to the well-being and resilience of young people facing extraordinary challenges. Their contribution provides those very people with an environment where they can find strength, share experiences and build important support systems. We believe that fostering such networks not only empowers patients, but also emphasizes the importance of community in overcoming one of life's most difficult challenges," adds Peter Struik, Executive Vice President of Fujifilm Europe.

Fujifilm Europe: Contributing to the fight against breast and colon cancer
In addition to its social commitment through donations and sponsorships, Fujifilm Europe also plays a decisive role in the fight against cancer as a provider of healthcare technologies. With innovative medical imaging technologies and AI-supported diagnostic solutions, Fujifilm is helping to make diagnoses more precise and improve treatment outcomes. Particular attention is being paid to breast and colorectal cancer – two types of cancer that often affect young people and where modern diagnostic technology helps to detect them at an early stage. Fujifilm is taking a holistic approach that focuses on technological innovation and community engagement to support patients.

^{1 Robert-Koch institut, 2024}