Yesterday marked the grand kickoff of the first of two Sailing Trips Hope Sailing Trips for the 2021 season!

Divided into groups of four on three sailboats, 12 young people in cancer remission from all over the French-speaking part of Switzerland will sail for 4 days and 4 nights on Lake Geneva.

It was at the Pirates’ Cabin in the port of Ouchy that the staff and volunteers of Léman Hope enthusiastically welcomed the new young participants for the Sailing Trips. Accompanied by their parents, the future sailors were captivated, eager, and a little intimidated as they discovered their new home for the next four days. For some, this was their first time away from home. The reassuring words of the skippers and supervisors were enough to quickly break the ice. At 6 p.m., the three sailboats—Chupito, Neisson, and Keola—and their crews set sail for an unforgettable journey.

On the dock, the parents’ excitement was also palpable. One of the mothers told us, “This Sailing Trip at just the right time for our daughter. It’s time for her to spread her wings and for us to let go.” Let the adventure begin!

Supervised by sailing and healthcare professionals, including members of ARFEC (the French-speaking Swiss Association of Families of Children with Cancer), Léman Hope is supported by some twenty volunteers who ensure the smooth running of the event. TheseSailing Trips a boost of confidence after a long hospital stay and in the wake of treatment’s side effects. Through an introduction to the values of sailing and life on board, the young people enjoy a fun and enriching environment. As a reminder, the Léman Hope project is inspired by a similar initiative, run since 2003 in the UK by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust (EMCT), named after the famous sailor who founded the project. 

"These young people are the stars of the adventure, we are the pilots of the boat and the project partners are the wind that blows through the sails"
Priscille Varillon de Macias, Léman hope project manager.