Segeltörns hope 2022: A positive and moving review

The magnificent third edition of Segeltörns hope ended on Wednesday, July 21, with smiles and beaming faces, but above all with parents proud of the experience their children had enjoyed, often for the first time away from home. Eleven boats, 48 survivors, one Valais mountain dog, technical challenges, games, swimming, sunshine, nights under the stars... Words cannot sum up the rich and intense experience enjoyed by these young people in remission from cancer during these two Segeltörns hope sailing trips.

Significantly, the Léman Hope family welcomed 15 young Swiss-German children, spread across six boats. This was an opportunity for them to discover the joys of Lake Geneva for the very first time. After often traveling several hours from their homes, a new language, a new canton, a new lake, and new experiences awaited them! The French- and German-speaking apprentice sailors bonded over games and laughter. Welcoming young German-speaking children was a first and a great success. "We all want to come back!" they said. Professor and Doctor Jochen Rössler, head of the pediatric oncology and hematology department at the University Hospital of Bern, also honored us with his presence at the arrival of Segeltörns. He told us how surprised he was to see three young people he had known and treated a few months/years earlier looking so different, so open and so happy: "It's incredible to see these children so full of life. I only knew them from the hospital, in bed and undergoing chemotherapy, some with complications. Now they have regained their strength and are at the center of their own lives. They can express themselves independently and are very enthusiastic. They are returning from this trip with a very positive feeling."

As for the weather, our young buccaneers made the most of the scorching heat. Swimming, stand-up paddling, buoys and visits to mysterious islands delighted young and old alike. But it was the towed paddle that took the prize for best activity! "The cruise helped me understand that I have the right to have fun and trust myself," says 17-year-old Brodie. 

During the second cruise, the skippers decide to change course to find the wind: heading for Grand-Lac and the ports of Rolle and Crans-près-Céligny. Léman Hope is above all an introduction to sailing on board a sailboat. This experience allows young people to discover a new world in which they are immediately given responsibility. Under the guidance of a professional skipper,From day one, they hoist the sails, stand at the helm, and perform numerous tasks to navigate the water, building self-confidence and a taste for freedom. "My best moment was when we were sailing and the boat tilted," says one young sailor who, following the Segeltörns, wants to become a skipper and get his boat license.

On land, the apprehension and excitement of parents leaving their child for the first time is palpable. They often fear that their child won't make friends or get along with other survivors. Cancer is not just a challenge to the body, it's also a painful psychological ordeal that often complicates social interactions. One mother confided to us on arrival: "I was anxious to let her go. Tonight, for the first time, I see the smile on her face that she had never found since her illness". A successful bet for Léman hope!

The Segeltörns hope sailing trips are an experience that bears fruit in the long term. Young people gain confidence through memorable moments, each at their own pace and according to their own experiences. That's why we are committed to offering this adventure to all young Swiss cancer survivors, every year until they reach the age of 21. In 2022, out of 47 participants, 15 were experiencing the adventure for the second or even third time. Esteban Garcia, the project's initiator, also emphasizes the importance of pushing oneself beyond one's limits: "We share our passion for sailing with young people who are regaining their self-confidence and can thus share their experience with others who have gone through the same painful experience of cancer."

The Segeltörns may be over, but the Léman Hope adventure is just beginning for the young survivors. "The cruise helped me because we were able to talk about cancer with people who have also had cancer, which feels good," says 11-year-old Louana. A boost in self-confidence, open-mindedness, sharing, and new friendships sum up the unique experience enjoyed by our apprentice sailors. See you next year for new adventures!