Cancer treatment is tough, but thousands of children have to endure it in their lifetime. Mastercard and Hospital de Amor in Barretos, the largest philanthropic oncology institution in Brazil, have given Brazilian cancer patients a little respite from their worries in an activation that allowed them to go onto the field as official Brazil team mascots, during the friendly soccer match between Brazil and Honduras, in the city of Porto Alegre. The project was created by Mastercard with the collaboration of WMcCann and MediaMonks. The children were represented by child-sized robots whose LED screens displayed the children’s faces in live action, capturing all of their reactions. On the other end, inside the hospital, the children could experience some of the excitement of being a player escort and being able to be “inside” the field. One day before, during the last training session, before the Sunday match and to bring closer the children to the players, Mastercard took the robots to the field and made a live transmission. The players and technical team had the opportunity to learn more about the story of the children who would enter the field with them the following day. The challenges of creating the project were not only technical but also, and primarily, operational. Due to the uneven surface of the field, the robots had to be capable of walking on the grass, dealing with obstacles and resistant to rain. In addition, streaming software developed especially for the action, had to handle possible interferences in the radio frequencies and TV transmitters, because the robots are remotely controlled. Initial concept design and 3D detailing served as a basis for mould production. In the final production, fibreglass finished with automotive paint added durability. To pilot the robots, “drivers” were stationed in the stadium and were given direct feedback from an auxiliary screen. Throughout the project, the partners had to also fit in with the protocols of the games. “Undoubtedly this is a daring project, combining aspects of electronics, software engineering, infrastructure and envelopes with quality craft. This action demonstrates how technology is at our service and how it can be used to do good things,” admitted Tato Bono, WMcCann production vice president. “Entering the field with soccer players is a dream for millions of children around the world. It seems to be impossible for many of them especially those who are in the hospital. We bring these children closer to their idols,” explained Sarah Buchwitz, communications and marketing vice president at Mastercard Brazil and Southern Cone. “This action is part of our campaign for Conmebol Copa América 2019, which has as its motto the word, Aproxime, (get closer), which is an invitation for people to approach each other and start what is priceless through football.” VIDEO According to the National Cancer Institute (INCA), evidence from experimental studies suggests that psychological stress can affect tumour growth. Therefore, being close to family or friends can reduce levels of depression, anxiety and even symptoms related to illness and patient treatment. Because emotional and social support can help patients cope with psychological stress. According to the Institute, this disease affects about 12,000 children and teenagers annually in Brazil, representing an average of 32 cases per day. “We are very pleased to make the dream of many children in cancer treatment come true with Mastercard’s action. Being able to enter the field with their idols and live the emotion of the fans. Surely, these children will feel that the greatest cheer is for them, for their health, for their happiness, to be victorious for every challenge they face. We are sure that all the fans who are in the stadium or in their houses will have their lives transformed forever by participating in this beautiful project. More than attending a match, the perspective brought by MasterCard’s project leads everyone to participate in a moment of love for each other,” statedHenrique Moraes Prata, social responsibility director at Hospital de Amor. “Entering the field with one of the stars of the Brazilian National Team is a unique experience for every child. It is unforgettable. In Mastercard’s unprecedented action, we are making true the dream of those young people who cannot be here. It is a way to contribute a little at this moment, with strength and positive energy,” added Giberto Ratto, Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) marketing director. Besides the field action, Mastercard will allocate 1 million reais, through tax incentives, to Hospital de Amor, as a way of maintaining the commitment to the institution through the Municipal Fund for Children and Adolescents (FUMCAD) and the Law of the Elderly. 500 thousand reais for the Care Project, which aims to fund and maintain the prevention, treatment and research of infant and juvenile cancer, and another 500 thousand reais for the Project. The funds will support various projects, including the prevention, treatment and research of infant and juvenile cancer.
Child - sized robots enabled children with cancer to experience the excitement of escorting international soccer players onto the pitch live from their hospital beds . At the start of a recent friendly match between Brazil and Honduras , two robots — each representing a different child — joined other children on the pitch with the players . LED screens on the robots displayed the children ’s faces in real time as they watched excitedly from hospital . The initiative was made possible by Casa de Amor in Barretos , the largest philanthropic oncology institution in Brazil , and Mastercard . MediaMonks and WMcCann collaborated on the “ Impossible " ” campaign .