dentsu MENA partners with Abtaluna to support Superheroes fighting Childhood Cancer

Published on:
  • Powerful multi-platform collaboration of dentsu agencies in MENA calls for collective empathy and action to provide emotional support and uplifting experiences to impact young cancer patients’ lives 
  • Campaign Creative and Strategy led by Dentsu Creative MENA 
  • The ‘Here to Matter’ campaign is part of dentsu’s pro bono partnership with Abtaluna and its commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and will launch this week in support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month  

Dentsu has partnered with social enterprise Abtaluna (‘Our Superheroes’ in Arabic) – a family support and awareness group for children fighting or who have fought cancer in the Arab world. The pro-bono partnership involving creative and media agencies from across the dentsu network aims to raise awareness and challenge taboos around a disease that impacts 18,000 children every year in the Arab world and supports WHO’s goal of a 60% cancer survival rate by 2030.   

The campaign taps into the opportunity for children impacted by cancer to learn new skills and try new experiences while calling on society for collective action to donate their time and skills to support children fighting cancer in the UAE.  Combining a digital platform and activation on social with a custom AR Lens and influencer marketing to create social pledges from artists, musicians, chefs, authors, scientists, athletes, and creatives to ‘Be the Hero they Need’.  


Tarek Daouk, CEO of dentsu MENA, says: “Cancer is one of the world’s deadliest diseases and a child is diagnosed with cancer every 80 seconds globally. In the region, there are limited support networks to connect those fighting the disease and inadequate awareness of the signs and symptoms of childhood cancer. The work Abtaluna is doing, and the personal battle Lama and her son Super Sam have fought to achieve it, is inspirational. ‘Here to Matter’ is a brilliant example of creative collaboration across dentsu’s agency teams that we hope will inspire society to unite and take action to support this cause by connecting caregivers with volunteers willing to donate their experience and time. We are delighted to partner with Abtaluna and deliver on our shared responsibility as a B2B2S company – using our talent, skills, and time to deliver services that have a lasting impact on society.” 

Lama Andari, Social Entrepreneur and Children’s Book Author says: “Abtaluna was created to support families and loved ones whose superhero children are fighting cancer or were lost to cancer. My inspiration has always been my own 4-year-old son Super Sam, who was diagnosed with Leukemia in April 2021. On our journey – we could not find any platform in the Arab world that connects and supports parents of children who have been forced to deal with cancer in their lives and the unprecedented challenges they face. 

Furthermore, we must normalize speaking about Childhood Cancer and that’s why I also wrote a children’s book called “Super Kids”. Early diagnosis can save lives, and unfortunately, the community is insufficiently aware of the signs and symptoms. The whole community has an important role to play in learning about Childhood Cancer and supporting our Super Kids. 

The ‘Here to Matter’ platform will go a long way to ensuring our superheroes are not alone in their battle. I am proud of the partnership forged between Abataluna and dentsu. I am extremely grateful to have their support in raising awareness so we can all educate ourselves, inform our friends, and work within our communities to tackle the stigma around childhood cancer and fight it together.”  

The ’Here to Matter’ campaign launches on the 22nd of September and supporters can register as a requestor or contributor on the Abtaluna website. You can also show your support this September by donating hair to create wigs for people impacted by cancer with a free haircut at any one of 42 salons across 3 Emirates, full list of participating salons is available on Abtaluna’s website.    

The campaign is part of dentsu’s ongoing commitment to use the power of media and advertising to drive the delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.