2020 WAS A VERY SPECIAL YEAR OF HEALTH CRISIS DURING WHICH WE ADAPTED OUR ACTIONS TO BE CLOSE TO FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS, RETHOUGHT OUR EVENTS IN A CONNECTED MODE, CONTINUED TO DO OUR UTMOST TO MOBILIZE POLITICAL ACTORS AROUND THE CANCER PLANS IN FRANCE AND IN EUROPE, AND SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED OUR EUROPEAN CALL FOR PROJECTS FIGHT KIDS CANCER.
Supporting sick children and their families, one of our missions, has proven to be essential. While the Covid-19 pandemic paralyzed France on several occasions, and national health priorities were reviewed in order to fight the coronavirus, we redoubled our efforts to stay as close as possible to children with cancer and their families. We relied on our network of volunteers and partners to help families equip themselves with masks and hydro-alcohol gel after the first containment in May 2020, and to brighten up the children's daily lives by organizing activities and events for them remotely. In this way, we have reached out to many families throughout France, and are committed to continuing to support them as best we can during this difficult period.
Continuing to support the researchers and raising donations to fund their programs has also been a priority for us in 2020. To do this, the reorganization of our Children Without Cancer solidarity race in connected mode has been paramount. Thanks to the agility of our team, the unwavering support of our volunteers and partners, and the mobilization of many runners, the connected race was a success as it allowed us to raise €1,325,000 for research. In addition, our ambassadors with big hearts also adapted their fundraising events, raising more than 300,000€ to support us in 2020.
Accelerating research remains our top priority. To this end, we have joined forces with the Belgian KickCancer Foundation and the Luxembourg Kriibskrank Kanner Foundation and launched Fight Kids Cancer, the first European call for projects on pediatric cancers. The objective is to boost and accelerate research in pediatric oncology by pooling our funding and thus increasing our impact. The first edition was a success, raising 3 million euros to finance six innovative research programs.
Finally, we have continued our mobilization actions in France and in Europe so that childhood cancer is part of the priorities of the French and European cancer strategies. Most of the time using Zoom, and sometimes in person, we have acted through the various working groups to which we belong to ensure that the urgent need for research on pediatric cancers is taken into account. And we have been heard, since measures dedicated to pediatric cancers have been included in the new ten-year cancer strategy in France and in the new European Cancer Plan.
I would especially like to thank our partners and donors for their unwavering support in this year of 2020 when all attention was focused on Covid-19, and of course, a big thank you to our team and volunteers for their agility and strong determination that transformed this difficult period into a year full of new opportunities and successes in our fight to cure children and support families.

Patricia Blanc, President and Founder of Imagine for Margo