Laughter, tears and the evenings of La Night
Between laughter and tears
Laughter has always been part of Zoé's life. Once she knew what it was to laugh, she never stopped. Until the very last day, she was still laughing. Her laughter was infectious. Sometimes, she even laughed to hear herself laugh. That was Zoé!
Before he left, we made him a promise: to keep on laughing. But believe me, it's not an easy promise to keep. Living with his absence is a constant pain, a presence that is missed at every moment. And the battle we are waging through the association that bears his first name, Zoé4life, is another. It's a heavy battle. Beautiful, but heavy. It leaves little room for laughter, sometimes.
So when the La Night approached us to ask us to be part of their adventure - organizing evenings at the Neuchâtel skating rink, with a particular focus on humor - we didn't hesitate. It was like a wink from Zoé. Like a reminder that we could also fight this battle with a light heart, that we could mix it with laughter.
Because yes, La Night evenings are full of emotion.
Audiences come first and foremost to laugh and have a good time. They don't come because they know that La Night supports two pediatric cancer charities, Des Soleils pour Princesse Mimi and Zoé4life. But I'm convinced that, deep down, it touches people to know that their presence helps such an important cause.
For me, the only evening I was able to attend this year was a concentrate of laughter... and tears. Where the public sees a funny, successful event, I see hours of work, the mobilization of a committed committee, the generosity of an entire team. We also organize events on a smaller scale, and I know how demanding that can be.
And that moment on stage...
An incredibly human artist invites two teenagers in the midst of a battle against cancer to join him. The audience rises to its feet, smiles, dries a few tears as it too is deeply moved, and applauds such an intense moment. I cry, not just with emotion, but with sadness and admiration. I think of how far these young people have come and how far they still have to go. I think of the brother who supports his sister through this ordeal, I think of the parents... And I cry to see all this love.
I'm going to name this artist because he was so generous: D'jal, despite the emotion, took over his show. And tears gave way to laughter.
The events of La Night are deeply human. They are a rare blend of laughter and tears, lightness and gravity. To the La Night committee, I want to say this: there will always be critics, unfair remarks, people who backbit. That's the lot of those who do. And when you give so much of your time, energy and heart... yes, it hurts.
But never doubt the importance of what you do. Brush aside doubts, reproaches and rumours. Keep going, even if it's just to show you're hanging in there. But above all, keep going, because we won't give up either. Because sick children never give up.
Thanks to you, thousands of people are made aware of our cause every evening. And that's worth all the gold in the world.
As we often say in September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, even though it's May :
You are #extraORdinaires!
Thank you for all you do. We realize how involved you are and what it means. Thank you to the public. Thank you to your committee, your families, your friends and the many volunteers. And finally, despite all the backbiting, let's continue together to make a real difference for children with cancer!
See you next year, we'll be there!
Natalie Guignard-Nardin
