Against the scenic backdrop of Marina Barrage, 15 young cancer warriors, their families and caregivers were honoured in a heartwarming celebration that blended compassion with community education. Held on Mother’s Day, the 11th edition of the Paediatric Brain and Solid Tumour Awareness (PBSTA) event was the largest yet, led by a spirited team of Duke-NUS medical students in partnership with Nan Chiau High School.

This year’s PBSTA event marked a turning point—not only honouring families’ battle against paediatric cancer but also reaching out to the public for the first time with awareness booths and expert-led educational talks, engaging close to 150 participants and members of the public. The initiative sought to drive home one message: every child with cancer deserves not just care, but a supportive, inclusive community.

Mr Mukul Prasad, third-year MD student and Project Director of PBSTA 2025, said: “Our aim was to create something joyful but meaningful. We wanted the public to understand what these children go through—and what they’re capable of—with the right support. Having been a part of PBSTA for the last two years, first as a volunteer and second as a member of the organising committee, when I saw there was a possibility to lead this event, I wanted to bring smiles to those tiny faces. This annual effort by the Duke-NUS student community aims to uplift their spirits, create memorable moments, and demonstrate that they are not alone in their fight.”

From carnival games and musical performances to an adrenaline-pumping joyride in luxury sports cars for the children, the day was filled with moments of inspiration and laughter. Volunteers—including 35 Duke-NUS and 21 Nan Chiau students—along with the Brain Tumour Society Singapore engaged passers-by with educational displays about brain and solid tumours in children, turning Marina Barrage into a lively hub of compassion and connection.

Dr Felicia Chua, an associate consultant with the department of neurosurgery at NNI who is also part of the neurosurgical service at KKH and the new faculty advisor, said: “PBSTA continues our 11-year-long tradition of support and awareness, demonstrating KKH, NNI and Duke-NUS’ commitment to walking alongside these young patients every step of their journey, not just as current or future healthcare professionals, but as compassionate partners in their fight against cancer. My main objective for mentoring this programme is to reach out to patients, their families and people from all walks of life to remind them that health is important and brain tumours in childhood while rare can occur.”

In addition to the public outreach, this year’s event featured a pre-event activity dedicated to bringing patients and their families together to foster a sense of community. Held in January, the inaugural pre-event had been very well received by participants, who valued the opportunity to bond with other families going through similar challenges in life.

Community engagement is a cornerstone of Duke-NUS’ distinctive curriculum which develops not only medical knowledge but also compassion and service leadership. Initiatives like PBSTA exemplify how our students are empowered to serve beyond the classroom –applying their skills, empathy and energy to uplift lives. As future doctors, they are nurtured to listen, advocate, and lead with heart-because medicine is as much about healing communities as it is about treating illness.

All photos in this story are copyrighted to Duke-NUS Medical School.