Setting course for 2024 cruises

The Léman hope cruises are fast approaching. From July 6 to 10 and July 17 to 21, the young participants will once again set sail on the magnificent waters of Lake Geneva to share an intense and unifying adventure! Like every year, they'll be accompanied by a team of carefully selected instructors and skippers who'll be confident, caring and professional. All the ingredients are in place for 5 days and 4 nights in a supportive, understanding and timeless environment. The positive effects of these cruises extend far beyond the few days of sailing. By facing challenges, forging new friendships and discovering new horizons, these young people gain in confidence. As project founder Esteban Garcia sums up so well: "The Léman hope cruises are not just an adventure on the lake, they are a breath of fresh air for these young people, a way of restoring their confidence and hope. Every smile and every friendship born on board are victories against illness."

The adventure is growing
This year, we're delighted to welcome 67 young people, including 55 from French-speaking Switzerland and 12 from German-speaking Switzerland, ready to embark on this unique adventure. Our young participants, aged 8 to 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 a breakdown of 6 French-speaking cantons and 5 German-speaking cantons. Demand for our cruises was incredible, and for the first time we had to create a waiting list! This just goes to show how valuable this initiative is, and how many young people want to take part. 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 create lasting memories.

A helping hand for siblings
In 2023, we introduced a major innovation: welcoming the siblings of children in remission. This initiative was greeted 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 important, and deserves special attention. Cruises can offer these young people a precious moment, just for them. With this in mind, Léman hope is once again opening its doors to 15 brothers and sisters this year, offering them support and an unforgettable experience.

A reinforced experience
32 skippers and instructors from Léman hope cruises joined us 2 months ago for 2 and a half days of intense training, rich in sharing and theoretical and practical lessons, led by qualified speakers. ✨ We reviewed the various themes essential to the smooth running of the cruises, such as the fundamentals of Léman hope, pediatric cancer and its long-term impact, everyone's roles and responsibilities during the cruise, safety and rescue, child protection, self-confidence, and emotional management tools. A crucial moment for Léman hope, as director Priscille Varillon de Macías reminded us: "It's a time when we draw on our collective and individual resources to prepare the ground for our ONE and ONLY mission: to help these young warriors rebuild their self-confidence after illness. And the better prepared we are, the more genuine, profound and lasting the impact on their lives will be."

Now you know almost everything! We look forward to welcoming you all on our Léman hope 2024 cruises. For more info and to follow our adventures, don't hesitate to follow us on social networks. We've got lots of surprises and inspiring stories to share!

See you soon on the lake!