Faces of Hope
Real People. Real Impact.
What is
Faces of Hope?
Faces of Hope is a fundraising journey dedicated to supporting cancer research and the young people behind scientific progress - the researchers whose work brings hope.
In 2026, the project takes place in Japan, where I will compete in the Ironman South Hokkaido on September 13 to support a Swiss-Japanese cancer research project.
Faces of Hope continues a path that began in Switzerland in 2023 and 2024, connecting sport, science, and human stories across countries.
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2023 - Camino de Santiago
A solo pilgrimage: 781 km on foot from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela to support cancer research, one step at a time.
Over 160 private supporters joined the journey, contributing CHF 16,088 (around JPY 3 million), fully donated to the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) to fund a promising melanoma project led by Dr. Tommaso Virgilio, turning every kilometer into tangible scientific progress.
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2024 - Zurich Marathon
From my first marathon to a meaningful mission: a personal challenge transformed into collective impact.
With the support of over 80 private donors and companies, CHF 15,036 (around JPY 2.75 million) were raised and donated to the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) and the Institute of Oncology Research (IOR) for a project led by Dr. Andrea Cavalli, Dr. Concetta Guerra, and Dr. Jacopo Sgrignani, targeting WWP1/WWP2 proteins, a promising path toward new treatments.
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2026 - Ironman South Hokkaido
My next challenge: my first ever triathlon, a full Ironman Hokkaido in Hokkaido, with 3.8 km swimming, 180 km cycling, and a 42.2 km marathon, to turn personal endurance into scientific hope.
This new chapter invites individuals, companies, and friends from Japan and Switzerland to join the mission, and supporting cancer research. All donations will contribute to a Swiss–Japanese research project, empowering teams whose work brings real chances for future treatments, transforming one athlete’s journey into collective impact.
Advisory Board - Faces of Hope
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Mr. Thomas Döbeli
General Manager
Chopard Japan Ltd. -
Dr. Caroline Junqueira
Group Leader
IRB Bellinzona -
Mr. Shunsuke Kosaka
A Friend
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Ms. Kyoko Suzuki Marumo
Head
Science and Technology Office Tokyo, Embassy of Switzerland in Japan
Who I am
Hi, I’m Andrea Nava.
I’m a Swiss dreamer and challenger based in Tokyo. I believe courage isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build, one step at a time.
Faces of Hope is where my personal challenges become collective change. Through endurance projects, I support cancer research and give visibility to the people behind scientific progress.
My mission is simple: act on what matters and tell stories that inspire others to take their own first step.
How you can support
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A first step
CHF 5 / JPY 1,000Even the smallest contribution matters. Many first steps together can start a journey of change.
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A set of samples
CHF 50 / JPY 10,000Support the materials needed to test an innovative idea. With your help, a researcher can move from theory to practice.
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A key experiment
CHF 500 / JPY 100,000Enable a crucial experiment in cancer research. This level of support can generate the first results that open new directions.
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A pilot grant
CHF 5,000 / JPY 1,000,000Fund a young researcher’s project idea with a direct grant. Your support allows a postdoc to generate preliminary data and apply for larger grants.
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Donate easily with TWINT
Switzerland only
Join the journey
I hope you’ll join us on this journey: by making a donation and/or by sharing this initiative with others.
Small steps. Real impact.