PinkRibbon funds scientific research to prevent, detect, and ultimately eliminate breast cancer and other female cancers worldwide.
PinkRibbon funds scientific research to prevent, detect, and ultimately eliminate breast cancer and other female cancers worldwide.
We work with verified institutions and named researchers to ensure every dollar drives measurable scientific progress. No galas. No ribbons. Research.
PinkRibbon International funds scientific research and supports prevention programs. We do NOT provide screening, treatment, or clinical services.
“When illness strikes a loved one, it does not only change their life — it reshapes the lives of everyone around them.”
A personal letter from Walter Scheffrahn, the man who started PinkRibbon International. In this heartfelt message, Walter shares the story of his sister Désirée, the battles that shaped his vision, and the promise that still guides our mission today.
Read the full letterFrom the first pink ribbon to a global movement spanning 96 countries and 7 advisory scientists.
At the heart of PinkRibbon International are people who care deeply — many with personal ties to the cause. They bring professional expertise and personal conviction to a single purpose: ensuring that donations fund real research, and that no woman faces cancer alone.
Founded PinkRibbon after his sister Désirée’s diagnosis. International branding and intellectual property background; protects the ribbon symbol and guides governance.
Strategic vision rooted in international funding for medical innovation. Inspired by friends’ battles with cancer; leads global growth with compassion.
Financial management expert. Both his wife and daughter have faced cancer — a personal drive to ensure every donation is used with integrity.
A pioneering figure in global healthcare — a physician, military veteran, biotech CEO, and lifelong champion of women in science and medicine. As a young doctor in the British Royal Navy, she became the first female physician to serve on the front line during combat.
Over 25 years in the biopharmaceutical industry, Annalisa has led global drug development programmes at Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck Serono, taken a gene therapy company public on NASDAQ, and served on the boards of Cancer Research Horizons, Genomics England, the British Heart Foundation, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, a committee member of the US FDA’s Science Board, and chairs YouBelong, a leading mental health charity. In 2025, she was awarded an OBE for services to life sciences.
What draws Annalisa to PinkRibbon International is not her CV — it is her conviction that scientific research, properly funded and transparently directed, can change outcomes for millions of women worldwide. She has spent her career turning science into medicine that reaches patients. At PinkRibbon International, she brings that same purpose: ensuring that donations fund real research, that partnerships deliver real impact, and that no woman faces cancer alone.
A strategist and partnership builder with over two decades of experience connecting organisations across the United Kingdom and the Gulf. As PinkRibbon International’s UAE Network Ambassador, she is helping to establish the organisation’s presence in one of the world’s most dynamic healthcare and philanthropic markets.
Seema’s career has been shaped by bridging worlds. During her tenure at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi, she led international market engagement, working closely with senior government officials, multinational executives, and institutional partners to advance cooperation between the UK and UAE. She has held governance and leadership positions across public institutions, including chairing a London school governing board, and brings experience in oversight of large-scale public sector programmes.
Today, as Founder and Managing Director of Hourglass Business Services, she advises international organisations on market entry and stakeholder strategy across the GCC. At PinkRibbon International, she brings that same partnership-led approach — connecting the organisation with donors, collaborators, and opportunities in the UAE, and supporting the responsible growth of a global movement that believes no woman should face cancer alone.
Pink Ribbon Inc. International
A global network of medical experts and researchers guides our work. Every grant is evaluated by independent scientists before a single dollar moves.
Breast cancer specialist, Australian National University.
Palliative care consultant, Tata Medical Centre; chair of the WONCA global group on palliative care and cancer.
Cancer geneticist; research on inherited genetic variation and breast cancer risk in women and men.
James Mackenzie Professor of General Practice, University of Edinburgh.
Medical oncologist and breast cancer expert; CEO of myFriendMD.
Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgery, Delta State University.
Professor of Molecular Oncology and Deputy Director, Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research (PGJCCR).
85 cents of every dollar funds research. 15 cents runs the entire operation. This isn’t a target. It’s a constraint encoded in our bylaws.
ONE WORLD | ONE FIGHT
Every donation is tracked, verified, and directed to science that saves lives.
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