Brilliant healthcare teams and campaigns from Cardiff are celebrating after securing national recognition for their life-changing work. The local medical experts picked up top prizes at the third Moondance Cancer Awards ceremony held on June 11, 2026. The prestigious event spotlights the dedicated teams and collaborations across the health service that innovate cancer care.
One of the major wins for the Cardiff team was for a pioneering project that allows patients to receive complex medication at home.
Team Work: The Collaborating with Partners Award
Grant Mehrjou of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: "We’re the first site in Europe doing this; it’s revolutionising the treatment for patients. This is the start of something - of therapies being more effective and patients living longer. Increasing the ease of access to treatment at home is only going to help the patient and improve their quality of life."
Another successful local collaboration won a top award for transforming care for patients with cancers where the primary tumour is unknown.
Transforming Care for Unknown Primary Cancers
Dr Sonali Dasgupta of Velindre Cancer Service said: "A lot of hard work and genuine passion for patient-centred care has gone into this piece of work. The team has built a state-of-the-art service from scratch in a short time, and I feel immense pride for my team and very grateful to all our collaborators. CUP patients in Wales have a home, the visibility and attention they rightly deserve."
A patient-led movement called Claire’s Campaign was also among the major winners at the ceremony. The movement was founded by the late Claire O'Shea alongside local charities to address delays in diagnosing gynaecological cancers.
Claire's Campaign Raises Awareness
The inspiring campaign has been central to raising awareness of gender bias in healthcare and giving women a platform to share their stories.
The winners were chosen by an expert panel of judges who looked at entries from across the country.
Wendy Evans, from the Moondance Cancer Initiative, said: "The Moondance Cancer Awards celebrate the individuals, teams and collaborations driving change across cancer services in Wales. This year’s winners demonstrate the impact of focus, creativity, joint working and shared ambition in improving outcomes and experiences for patients. Moondance Cancer Initiative is privileged to work alongside NHS colleagues and partners to support progress for patients. We look forward to continuing that work, building on the ideas, relationships and momentum reflected in this year’s awards."
To find out more details about the event, visit the official Moondance Cancer Initiative website.
