48 young people in remission from cancer will be able to sail on Lake Geneva this summer

15 February 2022

After two moving editions, the Chiki Foundation’s Léman hope project is spreading to German-speaking Switzerland. It has aimed to welcome 48 young people from the French and German-speaking parts of Switzerland on a sailing trip on Lake Geneva in order to offer them a new path towards confidence!

The Léman hope family is constantly growing and will be able to welcome twice as many people this summer as last year. This is great news for young people in recovery from cancer who want to look forward to a brighter future by taking part in a unique 4-day, 4-night sailing trip on Lake Geneva. This fun and enriching adventure is an opportunity for them to assert themselves outside the family setting by learning to sail.

Léman hope crosses the Sarine and is now also aimed at a public of young German-speaking people. In the long term, the Chiki Foundation’s project aims to welcome as many young people as possible throughout Switzerland. Jochen Rössler, Head of the Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology at the University Hospital of Bern, welcomes this new initiative: “We are delighted to see the Leman hope project being extended to German-speaking Switzerland. Our young survivors will, I am sure, greatly benefit from this adventure”. The skippers and the staff will all speak the same language: that of sharing and the taste for adventure. The vocation of Léman hope is to create an environment where young people can rediscover their confidence by transmitting the love of sailing, while allowing them to have fun and enjoy the experience in complete safety!

Cancer is not only a terrible experience for the body, it is also a psychological battle that can last for months or even years. On this International Childhood Cancer Day, we would like to highlight the mental challenge that many young people in remission face day after day! « “Cured” does not mean “finished”, which is why Léman hope proposes to tackle the aftermath by helping young people in remission from cancer to look forward to their future with optimism », reminds Esteban Garcia, founder of the Chiki Foundation. In order to carry out this long term action, we need your help, your donations and your support.

As of today, registrations to participate in the adventure are officially open! The trips will take place from July 9 to 13 and from July 16 to 20, 2022. To register your child or teen, go to registration or our website www.lemanhope.ch.

Here’s what they had to say about it

“On the boat, we are all the same and we know what it feels like to be sick.”

Aurélien, survivor

“My best moment was when we leaned over. I loved the feeling of flying over the water. I felt free! I tried new things that I didn’t think I could do and it helped me feel more confident, like when I was steering or helping during maneuvers.”

Isabelle, survivor

“We noticed a change in Leona in the days after the trip. She was different, more open.”

Leona’s mother

“As an instructor and survivor, I was able to observe these young people regain their innocence and their childlike cheerfulness in just a few days.

Camille, Instructor

“It’s an amazing feeling to be able to give back strength, joy, energy, self-confidence and a taste for adventure to kids who have already been through so much, with just a little volunteer help.”

Cara, volunteer

 

To visit our website: www.lemanhope.ch

To discover the Léman hope adventure in 60 seconds: Video

 

About the Chiki Foundation
Created in 2011 by Esteban Garcia, the Chiki Foundation’s mission is to support children through education, sports, nature and family through the development of educational and child protection projects. In particular, it has enabled the opening of two nurseries in Lausanne and La Chaux-de-Fonds. The Chiki Foundation has its headquarters in Lausanne. It is recognized as being of public interest and therefore benefits from a tax exemption. The Chiki Foundation is under the control of the supervisory authority for foundations (ASF) of the canton of Vaud. Its accounts are audited by PriceWaterhouseCoopers.