Imagine for Margo - Children without Cancer

What Imagine for Margo - Children without Cancer does

Imagine for Margo is a French non-profit association (Association loi 1901) founded in 2011 by Patricia Blanc and her husband Olivier following the death of their 14-year-old daughter Margo from cancer in 2010. Headquartered in St.-Germain-en-Laye (Île-de-France) with 36 employees, the organization is dedicated to fighting childhood cancer through four interconnected mission areas: financing research, mobilizing research actors, raising public awareness, and improving the well-being of hospitalized children. The association has been recognized as an Association Reconnue d'Utilité Publique (ARUP) since October 2024 and holds the IDEAS governance certification, marking it as France's leading parent-founded pediatric cancer charity.

The association operates a portfolio of recurring fundraising events — the Enfants sans Cancer race at Domaine national de Saint-Cloud, Enfants sans Cancer City at La Défense, the multi-city Rallye du Coeur automotive rally series (Paris, Nantes, Lille, Nord, Normandie, Bretagne), the Eclair Day bakery initiative, and the Hack4Hope innovation hackathon — alongside digital donation infrastructure at don.imagineformargo.org. Its flagship European initiative, Fight Kids Cancer, co-founded in 2020 with Belgian KickCancer and Luxembourg's Kriibskrank Kanner, now spans six countries and allocates tens of millions of euros annually to pediatric oncology research projects through collaborative calls. The association co-funds major clinical research programs including the BIOMEDE / BIOMEDE 2.0 trials on DIPG brain tumors (€2.5M over 10 years, with Phase 2 results published in Nature Medicine in April 2026 showing four children alive 6+ years post-treatment) and the MAPPYACTS precision medicine study using tumor genome sequencing. Ancillary programs include the SACHA drug-access initiative, the €1M annual Innovation Award Fight Kids Cancer, the FAST scientific symposium, and direct hospital well-being services (socio-aesthetician support, MRI distraction devices, artistic workshops, concerts with the French Republican Guard).

Revenue derives entirely from donations and corporate sponsorships, with 100% of participant-raised event funds directed to research. Key institutional research partners include Institut Curie (10-year partnership, 42 programs), Gustave Roussy (BIOMEDE host), CNRS Marseille Cancer Research Center, and INCa. Corporate partners span retail (Carrefour, 204 hypermarkets), luxury (Chanel), pharmaceuticals (Sanofi, Bristol Myers Squibb), consumer (Longines Paris Eiffel Jumping), and biotech (Onxeo). Since 2011, the association has allocated nearly €30 million to research, funded 100+ innovative projects, and enabled more than 9,200 children to benefit from funded treatments, with 129 new therapies proposed to children with cancer.

Name

Imagine for Margo - Children without Cancer

Legal name

Association Imagine for Margo

Website

https://imagineformargo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Imagine for Margo is a French non-profit association founded in 2011 that funds pediatric oncology research, supports hospitalized children with cancer, and raises awareness through national fundraising events and the pan-European Fight Kids Cancer coalition, having allocated nearly €30M to research across 100+ projects benefiting over 9,200 children.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Cancer Research Charity

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL), Global Health Advocacy, Policy & Rights Organizations (HLAJAKAO), Global Health Research, Clinical Trials & Product Development Partnerships (PDPs) (HLAJAOAM)

Keywords

• Childhood cancer research
• Pediatric oncology funding
• Charitable fundraising events
• Non-profit association
• Clinical trial support

Headquarters

HQ city

France

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising Events: The organization raises funds through various fundraising events including running races (Enfants sans Cancer), automotive rallies (Rallye du Coeur), pastry-based fundraising (Eclair Day), corporate sponsorships, and individual donations. 100% of donations collected by participants in events are allocated to research.
2. Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate partnerships with companies in various sectors (automotive, healthcare, retail, finance) who sponsor events and campaigns.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Imagine for Margo is a French charitable association that funds pediatric cancer research through donations, fundraising events, and corporate partnerships. The organization finances innovative research programs and clinical trials (such as BIOMEDE and MAPPYACTS), organizes solidarity races and awareness campaigns, and delivers hospital well-being programs to children with cancer and their families across France and Europe.

Product overview

Imagine for Margo is a French charitable association (Recognized as Being of Public Utility since 2024) dedicated to fighting childhood cancer through four interconnected mission areas: financing research, mobilizing research actors, raising public awareness, and improving hospital well-being. The organization operates not as a single product but as a portfolio of fundraising events (Enfants sans Cancer Race, Rallye du Coeur, Eclair Day, Hack4Hope), research funding programs (Fight Kids Cancer European initiative, BIOMEDE clinical trial, MAPPYACTS precision medicine study), scientific convening (FAST annual symposium), and patient support services. The core differentiator is the direct connection between fundraising activities and funded research outcomes, with over €30 million allocated to research since 2011, enabling 100 innovative projects benefiting over 9,200 children.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fight Kids Cancer European cross-border research funding initiative that selects and finances ambitious pediatric cancer research programs across multiple countries including France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Netherlands, and the UK.
• BIOMEDE Clinical Trial Clinical trial for children with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), supported by Imagine for Margo for over ten years with €2.5 million in funding. Phase 2 results published in Nature Medicine in April 2026 showed four children remain alive more than six years after treatment.
• Enfants sans Cancer Race Annual solidarity race held at the end of September at Domaine national de Saint-Cloud and connected locations worldwide. The 14th edition in 2025 brought together thousands of runners and walkers to raise funds for pediatric cancer research.
• Enfants sans Cancer City Urban solidarity race held at Paris La Défense business district. The 7th edition in 2026 raised €415,000 with nearly 2,000 participants and over 70 participating companies.
• Rallye du Coeur Charity car rally bringing together sports and classic car enthusiasts to raise funds for pediatric cancer research. Multiple regional editions held annually including Paris, Nantes, Lille, Brittany, and Normandy.
• Eclair Day Gourmet solidarity event where bakeries and pastry shops across France sell eclairs to raise funds for pediatric cancer research. The 5th edition in 2026 collected €90,000.
• Hack4Hope Europe's only hackathon entirely dedicated to childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancers. Organized in partnership with Paris-Saclay Cancer Cluster, Fondation S, Sanofi, LifeArc, and BMS.
• Colloque FAST (Further Accelerating Specific Treatments) Annual scientific conference bringing together pediatric oncology stakeholders including physicians, researchers, institutional representatives, parliamentarians, and pharmaceutical industry professionals.
• MAPPYACTS Study International precision medicine study co-funded by Imagine for Margo that establishes foundations for access to personalized cancer treatment for young children when conventional therapy has failed, through tumor genome sequencing.
• SACHA Program Program that secures and accelerates children's access to innovative therapeutic molecules outside of clinical trials, addressing gaps in pediatric oncology drug development and access in France.
• Innovation Award Fight Kids Cancer €1 million innovation prize awarded annually to researchers exploring new therapeutic approaches for childhood cancers. Recipients include Dr. Sophie Postel-Vinay (2024), Dr. Joshua Waterfall (2025), and Dr. Raphael J. Morscher (2026).
• Hospital Well-being Programs Services to improve quality of life for hospitalized children including socio-aesthetic care, distraction devices for medical procedures, artistic and culinary workshops, concerts, and holiday events with partners like the French Republican Guard.

Quantifiable outcome

• €30 million allocated to research since 2011
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Fight Kids Cancer CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020European funding initiative created by Imagine for Margo with Belgian foundation KickCancer and Luxembourgish foundation Kriibskrank Kanner, in collaboration with European Science Foundation. Now includes 6 member countries: France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands (KiKa), Spain (Cris Cancer), and partnership with St. Baldrick's Foundation (USA). Annual calls for research projects funding tens of millions of euros.
• Institut CuriecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 201310-year collaboration celebrating in 2023. 42 research programs funded since 2011, including 12 at Institut Curie. Joint funding of AsiDNA clinical trial, MAPPYACTS study, and Dr. Joshua Waterfall's Innovation Award. Co-organized 10th anniversary celebration event.
• Gustave RoussycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor French cancer center conducting BIOMEDE trial (€2.5M funding over 10 years) and BIOMEDE 2.0 international trial. Hosts FAST symposium annually. Dr. Jacques Grill leads DIPG research supported by the association.
• French National Cancer Institute (INCa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernmental partner funding the FOURMIS project on parent caregivers. Collaborates on national cancer policy initiatives and European research programs.
• Future4CaresupportingTechnology or IntegrationInnovation campus in Paris hosting Hack4Hope hackathon, the only event in Europe entirely dedicated to childhood cancer innovation.
• Paris-Saclay Cancer Cluster (PSCC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of Hack4Hope hackathon for pediatric cancer innovation.
• Fondation SsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner supporting Hack4Hope hackathon for childhood cancer innovation.
• SanofisupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner for Hack4Hope hackathon supporting pediatric cancer research innovation.
• Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner joining Hack4Hope 2025 to accelerate innovation against pediatric cancers.
• LifeArcsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMedical research charity partner for Hack4Hope hackathon.
• OnxeosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiotech company conducting AsiDNA clinical trial funded by Fight Kids Cancer, in partnership with Institut Curie, for pediatric cancer treatment.
• French Republican Guard (Garde Républicaine)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPatronage partnership (marraine au grand cœur) since April 2022, replacing Patrouille de France. Organizes events for children with cancer including Easter egg hunts and Christmas celebrations at their barracks.
• ChanelsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate Social Commitment partnership producing December 2025 communication campaign featuring 4 child warriors.
• CarrefoursupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerNational partner for Boucles du Cœur fundraising program with 204 hypermarkets participating. Previously local beneficiary for store-based fundraising.
• Longines Paris Eiffel JumpingsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEquestrian event featuring Prix Cavalassur in association colors, hosting child warriors and families at event.
• Institut Mines-Télécom Business SchoolsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for FOURMIS project studying and supporting parent caregivers of children with cancer, funded by INCa.
• Cancer Grand ChallengescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal initiative funding multidisciplinary research teams with $50 million. President Patricia Blanc participated in summit contributing to research impact for children.
• European Parliament / SIOPE / CCI EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy partnership launching manifesto for European pediatric cancer community: Heal more, Heal better, Reduce inequalities. Participation in Beating Cancer Committee hearings.
• ITCC (Innovative Therapies for Children and Adolescents with Cancer)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network of 14 countries where France accounts for 50% of inclusions in early clinical trials. Partnership for SACHA program securing drug access outside trials.
• UNAPECLE / SFCEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench pediatric oncology networks coordinating Ukrainian children cancer care during refugee crisis through Gravir collective.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Fondation ARC pour la recherche sur le cancer: Large French cancer-research foundation funding a broad spectrum of oncology projects including some pediatric work. Competes with Imagine for Margo for French philanthropic and corporate cancer-research donations, but with a much wider disease mandate.
• Institut Curie Foundation: Foundation tied to Institut Curie, Imagine for Margo's longest-standing research partner (10 years, 42 programs). Operates a broader research-funding portfolio while overlapping heavily on pediatric oncology.
• Ligue contre le cancer: France's largest cancer charity with national committees funding research, prevention, and patient support across all cancer types. Directly competes for French donor mindshare and corporate CSR budgets in pediatric oncology.
• Fondation Gustave Roussy: Foundation of France's leading cancer center; co-funds and hosts flagship Imagine for Margo trials (BIOMEDE, FAST symposium) while running its own pediatric and adult oncology fundraising programs.

Regional players

• Cris Cancer Foundation: Spanish cancer-research foundation and Fight Kids Cancer member. Comparable disease-focused fundraising-and-grantmaking model but primarily operating in Spain rather than France.

Direct peers

• St. Baldrick's Foundation: US-based volunteer-driven charity funding childhood cancer research; partnered with Fight Kids Cancer. Same grantmaking-for-pediatric-research model, much larger scale, and a useful benchmark for event-driven fundraising economics.
• KickCancer: Belgian pediatric-cancer research charity co-founded the Fight Kids Cancer coalition with Imagine for Margo in 2020. Operates the same model of national fundraising events feeding a pooled European pediatric oncology research budget, making it the closest structural peer.
• KiKa (Children Cancer Free): Dutch foundation funding pediatric oncology research and a Fight Kids Cancer member. Comparable mission, broader national brand in the Netherlands, and similar reliance on celebrity-driven mass-participation fundraising.
• Children with Cancer UK: UK charity dedicated to childhood cancer research funding and family support, operating a comparable research-grant + family well-being program and a UK Fight Kids Cancer partnership.
• Kriibskrank Kanner: Luxembourgish foundation for children with cancer and a founding partner of Fight Kids Cancer alongside Imagine for Margo. Same cause-specific fundraising + research-funding model, smaller geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ImagineforMargo
• Facebookfacebook.com/imagineformargo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/imagine-for-margo
• Instagraminstagram.com/imagine_formargo
• Xtwitter.com/ImagineMargo

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Imagine for Margo - Children without Cancer