About Connecting Champions
Connecting Champions matches young people with a mentor who shares their interests. One-to-one connections are built around passions such as sport, music, art, make-up and beauty, and many other creative and inspiring fields.
Who is it for?
Young people who have cancer or have previously had cancer.
The age range is approximately 12 – 24, but please get in touch if you know of a younger child who you feel would benefit from the programme.
Young people looking for encouragement, inspiration, or a positive focus
Young people who want to connect with someone from a field they care about
The programme is flexible and tailored to each young person’s needs, interests, and circumstances.
The aim is not formal coaching or therapy, but meaningful human connection
Who are the mentors?
- Share a passion or career interest with the young person
- Want to encourage, inspire, and uplift
- Are happy to offer time, conversation, and support
- They may be established professionals, creatives, athletes, or individuals with strong experience in their field.
- What matters most is enthusiasm, kindness, and a genuine desire to connect.
What does a connection look like?
Each connection is shaped around the young person. This might include:
- Informal conversations about shared interests
- Talking about journeys, challenges, and successes
- Creative encouragement or advice
- A positive space away from medical appointments and routines
- It may include insights into a career path
- A member of Childhood Cancer Ireland staff will always be on the call too
The aim is not formal coaching or therapy, but meaningful human connection
Research
Research shows that the programme is highly effective.
Participants report feeling more supported, developing new skills, and building resilience that lasts beyond the mentoring relationship.
The programme has been developed and refined with input from young people themselves, and its design is informed by international studies demonstrating the benefits of mentoring for social, emotional, and practical wellbeing in young people affected by serious illness.
The story of Connecting Champions
Childhood Cancer Ireland began exploring the idea of a mentoring and connection programme after our Ambassador, Ireland and Leinster Rugby player Hugo Keenan, began connecting with young people at our annual family day, and later through online conversations.
These connections brought distraction, enjoyment and encouragement to young people and their families during an incredibly difficult time. Seeing the positive impact of these relationships highlighted the power of shared interests and meaningful connection.
Building on this experience, Childhood Cancer Ireland developed a partnership with Connecting Champions, a not-for-profit organisation based in the United States. Since 2011, Connecting Champions has been supporting young people to pursue their passions by connecting them with mentors and role models who inspire and encourage them, through their evidence-based programme.
Together, this partnership brings the Connecting Champions programme to young people in Ireland, creating opportunities for encouragement, motivation, and connection through shared passions.
