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How does RIU Hotels support the fight against childhood cancer through its Proudly Committed strategy?
2 June, 2026 Share
At RIU Hotels & Resorts, we reaffirm our social commitment through the Proudly Committed strategy, channelling financial resources and logistical support to foundations in Spain and Mexico to improve the well-being of children with cancer, as well as their treatment and research in this area.
Our essence: people and the well-being of children
At RIU, we always say that our true essence is people. That is why, through our PROUDLY COMMITTED strategy, we are fully committed to a cause that touches our hearts: the well-being of children battling cancer.
Today we want to share with you how we work alongside admirable people to ensure these little ones and their families have the support they need when they are most vulnerable.
How do we help families in the Canary Islands?
We first became involved after hearing the stories of families in the Canary Islands. Just imagine for a moment how you would feel if your child were diagnosed with a serious illness and, on top of that, you had to leave your home on a small island to move to Gran Canaria or Tenerife so they could receive treatment.
For the past eleven years, we have been working alongside Fundación Pequeño Valiente. Our collaboration focuses on:
- Providing accommodation for displaced families.
- Funding specialised physiotherapy programmes.
- Offering support through psychologists and therapeutic leisure activities.
RIU’s impact in Mexico: Quintana Roo and Riviera Nayarit
This commitment knows no boundaries. In Mexico, we collaborate with Fundación Aitana and the Asociación Femenil Vallartense – CANICA Vallarta. What began as helping to pay for travel so that no child would miss their chemotherapy due to a lack of resources has grown into a comprehensive healthcare project.
| What our collaboration in Mexico has achieved | Milestones |
| Growth in patient numbers (Fundación Aitana) (Cánica Vallarta) | From 28 children (2015) to 218 children (2025) From 22 children (2022) to 33 children (2025) |
| Infrastructure | Opening of our own patient accommodation |
| Geographical cover | Support in the Quintana Roo and Riviera Nayarit regions |
| Key services | Transport for chemotherapy and diversified programmes |
Why do we invest in research with Fundación CRIS Contra el Cáncer?
We want to look beyond the present and help ensure that, in the near future, the story will be very different. That is why we have joined forces with Fundación CRIS Contra el Cáncer to drive forward the medicine of the future.
In Spain, around 1,500 new cases of childhood cancer are diagnosed each year. Neuroblastoma accounts for 9% of these and is one of the most aggressive forms. We are convinced that scientific research is the only way forward. By supporting the CRIS Advanced Therapies Unit at La Paz Hospital in Madrid and the CNIO, we are funding innovative approaches such as CAR-T cell therapy.
“Each breakthrough in the laboratory represents a life that can be saved. Personalised research requires stability and a long-term vision.”
Summary of RIU’s social investment (2015–2025)
Since the start of our strategic partnerships, we have amassed figures that demonstrate our genuine commitment to society:
- Total investment: More than 2.2 million euros allocated to the fight against childhood cancer.
- Purpose of the funds: Medicines, therapy sessions, hospital transfers, and cancer research.
- Years of commitment: A decade of uninterrupted collaboration.
At RIU, we will keep working with the same dedication and care, because every step we take together counts. If you would like to know more about our social initiatives, we invite you to explore our sustainability section.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is RIU’s Proudly Committed strategy?
It is RIU Hotels & Resorts’ sustainability and corporate social responsibility strategy, through which the company manages its social, environmental and community investment projects.
2. Which foundations does RIU collaborate with in Spain?
We mainly collaborate with Fundación Pequeño Valiente in the Canary Islands (patient support) and Fundación CRIS Contra el Cáncer (medical research).
3. What type of cancer does Fundación CRIS research with RIU’s support?
The collaboration focuses particularly on neuroblastoma, one of the most aggressive paediatric tumours, through the development of advanced approaches such as CAR-T cell therapy.
4. How does RIU help children with cancer in Mexico?
Through Fundación Aitana and CANICA Vallarta, we fund transport for chemotherapy, stays in shelters and comprehensive healthcare programmes for children in Quintana Roo and Riviera Nayarit.
5. How much money has RIU invested in fighting childhood cancer?
Since 2015, RIU has invested more than 2.2 million euros in care programmes and scientific research.
6. Why is support important in the Canary Islands?
Due to the archipelago’s geographical fragmentation, many families must travel from their home islands to specialist hospitals in Gran Canaria or Tenerife, creating a logistical and financial burden that RIU helps to alleviate.
