Why Being There Matters: Community, Collaboration, and Care at One Retinoblastoma World 2026

Monday January 26, 2026

One Retinoblastoma World is community, conversation, and collaboration in action. Families, survivors, and professionals unite to share knowledge and lived experience, shaping lifelong Rb care and support. WE C Hope CEO, Abby White, and WE C Hope USA President, Marissa D. Gonzalez, both Rb survivors, explore why being together in San Antonio this September matters so deeply for all in our community.

Two women are seated at a round table in a conference room, directly facing each other as they engage in deep discussion. The woman on the left clasps her hands on her lap and looks highly focused. The woman on the right gesticulates with both hands raised to chest level, palms facing towards the other woman, with her fingers splayed. She appears to be explaining or emphasizing a point, or trying to convey information clearly. A tablet and notepad rest on the table between the two ladies.

Joanna Perkowska, a dedicated Rb auntie from Poland, talks with Canadian ocular oncologist, Dr. Katherine Paton at One Rb World 2017.

One Rb World is Community, Conversation, and Collaboration

Join us this September 12-14 for an inspiring convergence of retinoblastoma-focused minds and hearts in historic San Antonio, Texas. This event is hosted by World Eye Cancer Hope USA, in collaboration with world-leading Rb specialists including Jesse L. Berry, M.D. (Children’s Hospital Los Angeles), Patricia Chévez-Barrios, M.D. and Dan S. Gombos, M.D. (Rb Center of Houston), and Maura Di Nicola, M.D. (Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami). This year’s One Retinoblastoma World conference offers an enriching blend of scientific rigor, personal perspective, and profound community.

One Rb World is a unique collaborative effort to advance the holistic and lifelong care of all affected by Rb. We unite to build more empathetic, integrated, and effective approaches to care that encompass both the medical and psychosocial experience.

Families, survivors, medical professionals, researchers, and other advocates each contribute invaluable perspectives to One Rb World. We weave together scientific knowledge and lived experiences, and we explore diverse aspects of the Rb journey – many of which would not be considered in a medical or scientific forum without the advocacy of this meeting.

Each person present shapes the conversations we have, the questions we ask, the care we imagine, and the future we reach for together.

One Rb World takes place just before the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) World Congress (September 15-18). This presents a seamless opportunity to extend your learning and networking within the broader childhood cancer community. Parents and survivors are welcome; a family/survivor-focused program runs throughout the SIOP congress, with full-access to all other tracks, including psycho-oncology, nursing, and paediatric oncology in developing countries.

Many attendees choose to participate in One Rb World as a stand-alone experience, while others extend their stay to deepen learning and connection across both communities.

We’re committed to inclusivity at One Rb World! We’re proud to offer a low rate for families and survivors, and reduced rates for those attending from low- and lower-middle-income countries. Children attend for free, though every child must be registered individually on a family ticket.

Attending One Rb World this year in San Antonio, you will experience:

Friday, September 11, 2026: Pre-Conference Social and Welcome Reception

Before we delve into the heart of our conference, we invite you to unwind from your travels and connect with others at our informal afternoon social outing and evening welcome reception. Open to all conference guests, this time is dedicated to meeting the conference community, casual conversation, and fun. It sets the stage for the meaningful connections and collaborations that we know will flourish in the following days.

Saturday 12 – Monday 14 September: One Rb World Conference Program

Programming is focused on current patients, survivors, families, medical professionals, and the scientific community, with speakers, panels, open-floor discussions, and more. Session topics include genetics, new treatment, survivorship, prosthetic eyes, Rb around the world, and more. Sessions aim to present both the perspective of parents/survivors and medical professionals.

Read more about the 2026 Conference Program

At One Rb World 2024, Rachana Shah speaks on advancements in Rb research alongside her fellow panelists Jesse L. Berry, Paula Belson, and Brenda Gallie.

Child Life Program

Throughout the conference, we offer a special program for children diagnosed with retinoblastoma and their siblings, children of adult survivors, and the children of conference speakers. Led by Certified Child Life Specialist, Morgan Livingstone, this fun program includes a mix of free-play and structured activities. Many are carefully designed to help children understand their experiences with eye cancer, fostering emotional resilience, active engagement in their healthcare journey, and mutual support.

This is one of the few spaces where children affected by retinoblastoma can meet others who truly understand their experience, while receiving tailored support from child life professionals with Rb experience.

Read more about the Child Life Program

The San Antonio River Walk

Our conference hotel opens onto the famous San Antonio River Walk, known for its vibrant culture and captivating history. Book your room with our group rate and join our conference program and social events with ease, keep the conversation and camaraderie flowing, and soak up the heritage, rhythm, and charm of this delightful riverside location.

The River Walk is one of the most extensive urban ecosystems in the U.S. Along its shaded water-level paths, you will find unique local restaurants, stores, and attractions – vibrant gathering spaces that invite warm hospitality and unhurried connection beyond the conference room. This is where San Antonio’s story, soul, and style come alive.

Enjoy relaxed café culture and delicious dining, take a riverboat cruise, or simply stroll along and soak up the atmosphere. Follow the River Walk on foot or bike to Mission Reach – an eight-mile stretch of recreational trails, pedestrian bridges, and pavilions, winding past four historic missions (Concepción, San José, San Juan, and Espada).

Whether you stay close to the heart of the city or venture beyond, happy discoveries and unforgettable experiences await around every bend.

A table is covered with a large sheet of white paper featuring hand-drawn, decorative letters spelling out the words: One Retinoblastoma World 2024. The words are outlined in various colours and patterns, and the letters are intricately designed with stripes, flowers, polka dots, and googly eyes. On the table, a container holds colorful markers; sheets of stickers featuring tropical and fun designs, such as flowers, palm trees, animals, and beach items; large, playful googly eyes; hand-drawn outlines of children’s hands.

This table was decorated by our lovely kiddos in the Child Life program at One Rb World 2024.

Sharing Knowledge and Experience

One Rb World 2026 is far more than a medical conference for parents and survivors. It’s a catalyst for change, and a homecoming for all of us touched by retinoblastoma – whether family members, survivors, professionals, scientists, or other dedicated advocates. Your participation is pivotal, for yourself, and for the advancement of our global community.

For the Individual (Family Member, Survivor, Professional)

Participating in One Rb World 2026 is an opportunity for transformation. You gain rare access to the latest developments in retinoblastoma care and research. More importantly, you become part of a community that wants to hear about, understand, and support your journey. The connections made here can last a lifetime, providing a network of comfort, strength, encouragement, and motivating shared experience.

Strengthening the Retinoblastoma Community

By participating in One Rb World 2026, you are part of a global movement striving for excellence in retinoblastoma care for all, throughout life. Your unique insights and experiences enrich the collective understanding.

Together, we explore both medical knowledge and the lived experience of retinoblastoma at all stages of life. We challenge the boundaries of what is acceptable and possible in children’s care, psychosocial support, and survivorship, and we collectively reshape the future of lifelong retinoblastoma care worldwide.

Hear reflections from professionals, parents, survivors, and scientists at One Rb World, offering a glimpse of the connection and collaboration that continue to define our gatherings for the best care possible!

The Many Benefits of Meeting In-Person

Since 2017, WE C Hope has live-streamed many One Rb World sessions, making them available after the event. We know this removes barriers for those who cannot travel due to cost, health constraints or other practical challenges; so we are working hard to plan a hybrid format for the 2026 program, extending knowledge and collaboration to all corners of the world.

However, nothing can replace the power of immediate, present human interaction at the heart of the One Rb World experience. While virtual attendance offers global access and convenience, being physically present in San Antonio offers a richer, more immersive experience for those who can travel. In-person interactions foster deeper connections, collaborative opportunities, and a shared sense of purpose and commitment.

For example, virtual attendance means:

Limited Personal Connection

Remote interaction lacks the depth of in-person connections that are crucial for families, survivors, and professionals alike managing the psychosocial impacts of retinoblastoma. This can reduce the level of empathetic understanding and support, influence the way experiences and knowledge are received by others, and impede learning and progress in patient care.

Restricted Access to Experts

Online attendees miss out on direct conversation with multi-disciplinary specialists and researchers from around the world. These individuals are leaders in retinoblastoma, childhood cancer care, psycho-oncology, survivor care and holistic support.

In-person participation creates opportunities for individual discussion, clarification, and personalized advice that are not possible with virtual access.

Fewer Networking Opportunities

The virtual format offers very limited opportunity for spontaneous networking, which is vital for researchers, professionals, families, and survivors to form collaborative relationships and support networks.

No Virtual Child Life Program

Unfortunately, our three-day Child Life program in San Antonio will not offer a virtual component.

Children who attend in-person benefit from the one-to-one interaction and tailored support of child life specialists experienced in caring for young families affected by retinoblastoma.

Reduced Program Access

To respect participant privacy, some aspects of the program may only be experienced in-person, or in real-time in virtual format, and may not be available to view in our public-access sessions hub after the event.

Breakout sessions also will not be live-streamed or videoed for later viewing due to cost and logistics. These aspects of the program will only be open to in-person participants in San Antonio.

Virtual attendees will also miss out on key aspects of the conference beyond the formal program, such as organized social events, impromptu discussions, and informal gatherings. All of these aspects make the in-person experience more vibrant, memorable, and transformative.

Time-Zone Complications

The schedule may pose challenges for virtual attendees depending on their time-zone relative to San Antonio (CDT, UTC/GMT -5). Sessions that are planned for optimal hours in San Antonio may translate to inconvenient times around the world, leading to missed opportunities, or participation at less-than-ideal hours.

This can make it difficult for virtual attendees to benefit from live interactions, and potentially impact the way information is shared and absorbed.

Missing the Immersive Atmosphere and Environment

Virtual attendees will miss out on the vibrant atmosphere and natural beauty of San Antonio. Flowing water and blue skies form an inspiring backdrop right outside our hotel; the River Walk invites us to reflect, connect, and shape the future together. For all who join in-person, the shared environment adds depth to our conversations and connections, nurturing our community and creating memories to hold close for a lifetime.

For all these reasons, we are excited to gather in Texas and share the many benefits of in-person meeting we value so much as a small, widely disbursed yet close-knit global community.

Three smiling women engage in friendly conversation. Behind them, long picture windows bathe them in natural light. One of the women is holding a tablet, and they are wearing colourful smart casual dress.

Free-flowing conversation during a coffee break at One Rb World 2012 (the founding event) in London, England.

Two young girls stand side-by-side in front of a colorful Hawaiian backdrop of gold grass skirt and verdant green leaves adorned with pineapples and vibrant hibiscus flowers. Both girls wear leis, smile broadly, and hold signs displaying bright logos. On the left, Nicole is wearing a black baseball cap backwards, a yellow t-shirt, and white joggers, and holds a white sign that reads: One Retinoblastoma World, Honolulu, Hawaii, October 15-17, 2024. On the right, Natalie sports her pink glasses, pink t-shirt, and light blue jeans, and holds a white sign that says: World Eye Cancer Hope, life and sight for every child.

Rb survivor Natalie Deshler, and her sister, Nicole, strike a pose at our Hawaiian photo booth – a popular attraction at One Rb World 2024.

A large group of people, ranging in age from very young children to older adults stand and sit together on the steps in front of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington D.C. Some are wearing red, white and blue floral garlands.

Families, survivors, and professionals gather at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington D.C. during a fun private bus tour of the city during One Rb World 2017.

Dr. Sandra Staffieri (Royal Melbourne Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia), and Ligia Fu MD (Hospital Escuela Universitario, Tegucigalpa, Honduras) first met at One Rb World 2012 in London, England. Their friendship and collaboration as two of the most influential Rb early diagnosis researchers has evolved thanks to One Rb World meetings.

Two young girls sit facing one another in conversation, in a giant box they are decorating. The box became a plane, a boat, and a car.

A plain old box can become anything to a child with boundless imagination. Once decorated, this one became a car, a ship, a plane, a hospital waiting room, a queen’s castle, and a safe place to chat with new friends – right in the middle of free play during the child life program at One Rb World 2017.

Two smiling women pose close together for a selfie. The woman on the left has black curly hair, glasses, and wears a brown patterned outfit with a scarf. The woman on the right has long wavy brown hair and wears a black top. She holds a stuffed toy elephant with large eyes. People mingle in the background. The image is slightly blurry, suggesting movement.

Rb Survivor Clayonia Colbert-Dorsey met other survivors for the first time at One Rb World 2017. She has since become a strong advocate for global retinoblastoma. Here, she and WE C Hope USA President, Marissa Gonzalez, capture the earliest moments of their friendship and collaboration in D.C.

Walk Soft, Act Strong for San Antonio

Texans take great pride in their land, history, and hospitality. San Antonio is a city of deep roots and wide welcomes.

As we gather for One Rb World 2026, please join us in traveling with care. That simply means being aware of the impact we each have, and choosing to make it positive, wherever we can. From how we use public spaces to the stories we listen to and share, every small decision can help protect what makes this beautiful place so special.

Together, we can support local people, respect and protect shared spaces, and help preserve the spirit of this historic city for all who call it home. Here are our top tips for traveling responsibly for One Rb World 2026

A lively group of around 60 people gather in front of two trolley buses from E Noa Tours. Scenic mountains rise in the background. The group, diverse in age and background, is smiling, laughing, and making the friendly shaka hand sign. Many are wearing colorful leis, headbands, and sunglasses, adding to the joyful, celebratory vibe.

At One Rb World 2024 in Honolulu, Hawaii, our pre-conference social included a fun bus tour. Here, our joyful group smiles at the Halona Blowhole stop.

Join Us at One Rb World 2026!

One Rb World 2026 in San Antonio is a global convergence of hope, knowledge, and action against retinoblastoma. We warmly invite you to be a part of this transformative experience.

Many attendees make their participation possible through shared accommodation, community fundraising, or securing local grants. We offer several tools to help you explore funding options. The following two links will invite you to download template word documents. Each file includes editing instructions at the top – please read them carefully to make the most of these resources.

Family Go Fund Me Template for One Rb World 2026

Family Grant Request Template Letter for One Rb World 2026

If this feels like the right moment for you, we’d love to welcome you in-person for the fullest One Rb World experience and progress possible. Being present in San Antonio, you can:

Connect more deeply for greater understanding, support, and shared learning.
Benefit from real-time one-to-one conversation with other attendees, and the opportunity for more personalized discussion.
Enjoy spontaneous networking opportunities to form new collaborations and strengthen support.
Support your kids with personalized retinoblastoma-specific support at the child life program – a rare opportunity to help them understand, cope with, and thrive through their experiences.
Share with others in exploring a diverse range of topics, and help build the best holistic care for child, family, and survivor.
Engage fully in all aspects of the conference, including breakout sessions, ad hoc discussions, informal gatherings, and social events.
Experience the entire formal and social program at the optimal time.
Enjoy the big-hearted hospitality, unique heritage, and natural beauty of San Antonio, and the uplifting perspective of this lively global gathering.

We can’t wait to welcome you to the 8^th One Rb World meeting in September!

Find Out More and Register Now for One Rb World 2026!

About the Author

Abby’s father was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma in Kenya in 1946. Abby was also born with cancer in both eyes. She has an artificial eye and limited vision in her left eye that is now failing due to late effects of radiotherapy in infancy.

Abby studied geography at university, with emphasis on development in sub-Saharan Africa. She co-founded WE C Hope with Brenda Gallie, responding to the needs of one child and the desire to help many in developing countries. After receiving many requests for help from American families and adult survivors, she co-founded the US chapter to bring hope and encourage action across the country.

Abby enjoys listening to audio books, creative writing, open water swimming and long country walks.

Abby is wearing a blue and white patterned top, dark pink collared cardigan, and light blue patterned skirt, and a heart necklace. She is pictured with her black German shepherd - golden retriever guide dog, who is wearing a pink collar with guide dor tag showing. Both are smiling broadly. The background is a bed of bright orange marigolds, a low hedge and tall trees.

Read the story of how WE C Hope began.

Marissa Gonzalez resides in Southern California and is an event director. She is a founding board member, and current President of World Eye Cancer Hope USA, and was Event Chair for the One Retinoblastoma World Conference in 2017 and 2021. In her downtime, Marissa enjoys travelling and going to Disneyland.

NYT Opinion | It Takes A Lifetime to Survive Childhood Cancer.

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Why Being There Matters: Community, Collaboration, and Care at One Retinoblastoma World 2026

One Rb World is Community, Conversation, and Collaboration

Friday, September 11, 2026: Pre-Conference Social and Welcome Reception