The Italian Association Against Leukaemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma (AIL) has granted EUR 160,000 to the Haematology Department of the National Cancer Institute in Kyiv. The symbolic transfer of funds took place on 20 November 2024 in Rome with the participation of the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine - Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko and AIL President Giuseppe Toro.

“Ukraine is extremely grateful to the Italian people for the support we have felt since the first days of the full-scale invasion. AIL has been raising funds to help Ukrainian cancer patients by offering assistance, support and accommodation in AIL care homes. Thanks to this initiative, more than 200 Ukrainian haematology patients were welcomed in Italy. We are grateful for the warmth, kindness and attention to each of them. And we are grateful for the financial assistance that Italy provides to strengthen the Ukrainian National Cancer Institute,” Yuliia Svyrydenko said.

The Italian Association Against Leukaemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma is a non-profit organisation based in Rome, founded in 1969. It supports, among other things, research and care activities in cooperation with the main Italian haematology centres.

After the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine, AIL launched a fundraising campaign to help Ukrainian cancer patients. In addition, the association’s volunteers, in cooperation with other associations, organised the supply of basic necessities for Ukrainians staying in Poland and in need of medical treatment.

The transferred EUR 160,000 is only a part of the funds raised by AIL as part of the initiative.

Italy has been supporting Ukraine since the beginning of the russian aggression, including through its contribution to the Cooperation for Development programme. To date, contributions under the cooperation are focused on the following sectors: training, energy sustainability, cultural heritage protection and reforms.