When KnowTheGlow Co-Founder Megan Webber and Director of Global Outreach Helene Dameris met virtually with Pablo Allard, they found themselves listening to a young man whose entire life has been shaped by childhood cancer and whose response has been to build a future of hope for others.He is the son of Alejandra Méndez, Vice President and Communications Director of Childhood Cancer International (CCI), whose own advocacy work inspired much of his commitment to the childhood cancer community.
Pablo’s story began when he was only a year old and diagnosed with clear cell sarcoma of the kidney. What followed was a long and difficult journey that took him from hospitals in the United States, where he was born, back to Chile as his family returned home. Over the course of his childhood, he faced three relapses, with the cancer returning in his bone marrow, his brain, and finally in his thyroid. Much of his early life was spent in and out of hospitals, surrounded by a family that quickly became active advocates in the childhood cancer community.
These years profoundly shaped Pablo. Inspired by the care and support that helped him endure those challenges, he decided to study psychology, dedicating himself to understanding the mental health needs of young cancer patients and survivors. Today, at 26, he works in Santiago at a housing facility for adolescents with cancer called Fundación Camino (https://fundacioncamino.cl/ ) a place that has welcomed more than 100 young patients from across Chile who come to the capital for treatment. He offers counseling and support to these teenagers as they navigate the difficult journey of cancer treatment away from home.
In addition to his work at the housing facility, Pablo has become a leader in survivor advocacy. In 2021, after meeting other survivors at a conference, he helped form Chile’s National Network of Childhood Cancer Survivors, which now includes nearly 80 members. As its Vice President, he works closely with nurses, doctors, and fellow survivors to raise awareness about childhood cancer, advocate for better mental health and nutrition support, and participate in shaping public policy.
His work also extends beyond Chile. Through his involvement with Childhood Cancer International (CCI), where he serves on the Steering Committee of the CCI global network of Childhood cancer survivors “Surnet” (https://www.childhoodcancerinternational.org/steering-committee ), Pablo collaborates on global initiatives such as the Global Survivors Network. During the conversation, Megan shared that she was delighted to see that CCI has recently partnered with St. Jude and mentioned that KTG is also working with St. Jude to help create a toolkit focused on the early detection of retinoblastoma, a resource she hopes will be widely used in Latin America. Pablo expressed enthusiasm for the idea and support for its future use in Chile.
Although Pablo has not yet encountered retinoblastoma cases within his housing program, he knows of a few Rb survivors through Chile’s survivor networks and expressed interest in helping connect with past patients and doctors willing to raise awareness about this condition. He highlighted the nationally renowned Dr. Marcela Zubieta, a key leader in childhood cancer in Chile deeply involved in these efforts.
Pablo also spoke about the shift he has seen in his country. While childhood cancer was once a neglected topic, awareness and support are growing, and he wants to see that momentum continue. He noted that language barriers remain a challenge in global collaborations but offered his help in bridging these gaps, connecting organizations like KnowTheGlow with Chilean hospitals, professionals, and families.
For Megan and Helene, the conversation with Pablo was deeply moving. It was a chance to meet a survivor who has transformed his own hardship into a commitment to make things better for those who come after him. Through his work as a psychologist, an advocate, and a connector of people and organizations, Pablo is ensuring that young patients in Chile not only receive treatment but also find the support they need to heal, hope, and imagine a life beyond cancer.
