Baby Pelones Are Coming: Hairless Dolls Against Childhood Cancer

The 'Baby pelones', dolls without hair like the many boys and girls with cancer, arrive from Spain. Created in 2014 thanks to the Juegaterapia Foundation, which helps young patients through recreational activities, their sale in Italy finances research projects of the Pediatric Oncology of the Int - National Cancer Institute of Milan. With over 250 new cases a year, it is the most important Italian center - and one of the most important in Europe - for the treatment of solid tumors in children and adolescents. Among the testimonials of the initiative are the Colombian singer Shakira, the much-loved Laura Pausini, the 'king' of Latin pop Ricky Martin and the singer-songwriter David Bisbal who, together with Teresa, a little fighter, designed the colored scarves worn by the toys. Juegaterapia wants all hospitalized minors to have a Baby Pelon to help them realize through play that, even without hair, they are still precious and special just like their doll. With the funds raised, the project 'El Jardín de Mi Hospi' (gardens on the roofs of hospitals) and 'Stazioni lunari' (isolation rooms decorated with themes dedicated to space) have been created in Spain. In addition, a new path has been opened - 'Juegaterapia investigación' - to finance studies on childhood cancer. Two research grants have already been awarded in Spain to the National Cancer Research Center Cnio for studies dedicated to neuroblastoma and childhood brain tumors. In Italy, the project that will be funded at the Pediatric Oncology Int, directed by Dr. Maura Massimino, will be aimed at the molecular study of rare childhood tumors. The study, coordinated by Andrea Ferrari, head of the institute's 'Youth Project' and coordinator of EXPeRT (European cooperative study group on pediatric rare tumors) and researcher Stefano Signoroni, will begin to evaluate colorectal cancer, a neoplasm typical of adults that can also arise in pediatric age, generally with very aggressive cases. The goal is to identify the molecular profiles and find specific therapeutic targets.