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Back to "The Zoé4life comedy gala".
It's hard to believe it was just 7 weeks ago...
We had worked so hard to organize this event. We had bombarded all our contacts with every possible means of promotion. Whats'APP, emails, social networks, newspaper ads, radio spots LFMFlyers, posters and banners, we've been hard at work promoting this gala and spreading the word about the cause we're defending.
Organizing an event means having to deal with the unexpected, and believe us, we always do, even when everything has been thought through, prepared and organized. Yes, it's complicated, it's a lot of work, it represents hours, days, months of work.
We had, it seemed, thought of everything. Or almost everything. Every detail had been thought of, right down to the contents of each basket offered to the artists who would be present, or the GOLD ribbon that we would ask them to wear, not forgetting the famous indelible pen, indispensable for noting the artist's first name on the water bottles provided.
We knew we were going to forget one or two small details, or even more important things, but on the whole we were confident. The stress came more from the fact that we really wanted to fill this hall.
A week before the big day, everything changed.
Something unexpected happened, something that no one could have foreseen, and it was about to ruin all our efforts.
COVID-19 came along, and from that moment on, we lived from one day to the next, not knowing if we'd be able to finalize the event.
We wondered for a long time if it wasn't our responsibility to cancel this event.
Honestly, for us, it would have been easier to cancel than to have to wait and see if we could finalize the gala and put in place all those precautionary measures like disinfectants, which we had trouble finding, and that identification form that was drawn up in a hurry, which inspired Thomas Wiesel during the evening and made everyone laugh.
It would have been easier than having to call the Vaud State Events Office every day to ask if we could go ahead. Call, wait and call again, not knowing until the day before whether our event would take place. Every day we got the same answer: Today it's ok, but we don't know about tomorrow.
Postponing such an event was unthinkable. We had 5 comedians with packed schedules, and the Rosey Concert Hall also had a busy schedule. No, it wasn't possible.
We thought long and hard about it, and remembered why we had chosen to work with Zoé4life: we chose to fight for these warriors of life, these children who are fighting against cancer and for life.
This event wasn't just about having a good laugh. The main goal has always been to support children with cancer.
We also contacted a number of doctors in our area to ask for their opinion, and their positive feedback was a great help in helping us take our decision.
The decision was made: if we had authorization from the State of Vaud, the event would go ahead.
At that time, the recommendations of the Federal Office of Health were as follows:
Our event was going to welcome around 650 people at most, so we pushed ahead, redoubling our efforts, shortening our nights, lengthening our days to finalize this event by adding measures for the traceability of those present. Each person agreed to give us their contact details and to contact us if they developed the disease in the days following the event. We would like to point out that this was not imposed by the State of Vaud, but we wanted to follow the example of other cantons where this kind of form was required.
The last few days before the gala, having to wait, think and plan everything without knowing if it was going to be possible, made us think of the world of childhood cancer.
Not being able to foresee anything, and the little semblance of a program is constantly changing, living from day to day, knowing how to adapt, knowing how to wait and knowing how to improvise, that's what families who accompany a child with cancer go through, and that's what we did with this event.
So for us it's been a few short weeks, with a bit of stress, but in the end the most important thing is to see how many people have helped us organize this event, who have supported and encouraged us. with a single aim: to help children with cancer, because cancer continues to strike children every day, and it will still be there once the COVID pandemic is under control.
The evening was a resounding success, and none of the people present that evening announced to us that they were ill. We received many congratulations on the organization and implementation of these identification measures, as well as on highlighting the recommendations of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health.
The next day, the FOPH added social distancing to its recommendations... our gala was just one day away...
As if a star had been watching over us so that this event could take place. Not for us, but for them, the children with cancer.
We'd like to thank the Joker Comédy team, Sébastien Corthésy and all the artists who performed on stage, Thomas Wiesel, Bruno Peki, Cinzia Cattaneo, Julien Sonjon, Simon Romang and the surprise of the evening, Antony Trice. We know that these are extremely difficult times for you, and we're thinking of you!
A special thank you to Robin, who agreed to come on stage to tell us about her journey through cancer. Our ambassador Lana, along with Nicole's son Elliot (cured of cancer) presented Robin's Kanji representing his journey through the disease. It measures 16m in length.
Thanks to our sponsors,
Raiffeisen Gimel Rolle, Edipresse, Cossworking, Andros, BM employment, Le Loultre SA, Coworking Society, Sedelec, Restaurant la Breguettazthe Physiothérapie du Parc, Garage Alain Ebner, Garage Guex, Forte Broker, GEM Real Estate, AXA RolleG.Salm sanitary SA.
To our partners: LFM la radio, Héritier traiteur , Créavin, Le Temps des fleurs, Cave de la Crausaz, our DJ Mario Ferrini, not forgetting the Paysannes vaudoises from Gilly and surrounding areas for the excellent food they prepared, and the Samaritains du coeur de la Côte, always on hand to help. Thanks to Lorette from LKL Marketing & Communication for always being there to help us.
Our thanks to the SDIS de l'Etraz and JSP Etraz Région fire departments for their help in welcoming our guests!
A very big thank you to the Rosey Concert Hall and all the team present for your welcome, your confidence and your help in organizing this evening.
A huge thank you to our ambassador Maïque Perez and our godfather Philippe Morax for your faithful presence by our side and for hosting this magnificent evening.
An event like this couldn't take place without our volunteers, and we thank them most sincerely for their work, and especially for the flexibility and understanding they showed on the night.
We know that these are extremely difficult times for all of you, and we're thinking of you!
Thanks to our photographers Gabriel Lado and Melinda Gianelli, and to Yann Berger of Projet-V for editing and producing the film, as well as for the footage shot with Fred Les Vadrouilles de Fred.
The Zoé4life committee: Natalie, Nicole, Marc, Laura, Isabelle, Alicia, Audrey and Gaëlle
