Heading for Segeltörns

The Segeltörns Hope Segeltörns are fast approaching. From July 6 to 10 and July 17 to 21, young participants will once again set sail on the magnificent waters of Lake Geneva to share an intense and unifying adventure! As every year, they will be accompanied with confidence, kindness, and professionalism by a fantastic team of carefully selected instructors and skippers. All the ingredients will be in place for five days and four nights in a supportive and understanding environment, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The positive effects of these Segeltörns far beyond these few days of sailing. By facing challenges, forging new friendships, and discovering new horizons, these young people gain confidence. This experience allows them to break out of their isolation, feel understood and supported, and rediscover a part of their childhood lost to treatment, as the project's founder, Esteban Garcia, so aptly sums up: "The Segeltörns Hope Segeltörns are not just an adventure on the lake, they are a breath of fresh air for these young people, a way to restore their confidence and hope. Every smile and every friendship formed on board is a victory against illness."

The adventure grows
This year, we are delighted to welcome 67 young people, including 55 from French-speaking Switzerland and 12 from German-speaking Switzerland, who are ready to embark on this unique adventure. Our young participants, aged between 8 and 21, are grouped into crews of 4 or 6, speaking the same language and of a similar age (+ or – 3 years). This year, we are proud to represent 11 Swiss cantons as well as neighboring France, with six French-speaking cantons and five German-speaking cantons. The demand for our Segeltörns been incredible, and for the first time, we have had to create a waiting list! This shows how valuable this initiative is and how many young people want to participate. To meet this growing demand and offer this opportunity to even more young people, we really need your donations. Our ambition? To welcome 300 young people by 2030! Every contribution brings us closer to our goal and helps us create lasting memories for them.

A helping hand for siblings
In 2023, we introduced a major new initiative: welcoming the siblings of children in remission. This initiative was met with great enthusiasm, and we are delighted to continue it in 2024. The psychological impact on the siblings of children with cancer is just as significant and deserves special attention. Segeltörns offer these young people a precious moment that is just for them. With this in mind, Léman hope is once again opening its doors to 15 siblings this year, offering them support and an unforgettable experience.

An enhanced experience
32 skippers and instructors from Segeltörns hope joined us two months ago for two and a half days of intensive training, rich in sharing and theoretical and practical teaching, led by qualified instructors. ✨ We reviewed the various topics essential to the smooth running of Segeltörns, such as the fundamentals of Léman hope, pediatric cancer and its long-term impact, the roles and responsibilities of each person during the cruise, safety and rescue, child protection, self-confidence, and emotional management tools. This was a crucial moment for Léman hope, as director Priscille Varillon de Macías pointed out: "This is a time when we draw on our collective and individual resources to lay the groundwork for accomplishing our ONE and ONLY mission: to help these young warriors rebuild their self-confidence after illness. And the more prepared we are, the more real, profound, and lasting the impact on their lives will be."

There you have it, now you know almost everything! We look forward to welcoming you all to our Segeltörns Hope 2024 Segeltörns . For more information and to follow our adventures, feel free to follow us on social media. We have lots of surprises and inspiring stories to share!

See you soon on the lake!