Zoé4life, the little association that does big things
In March of each year, we usually announce Day4life, our September event in Rolle. But in life, things don't always go according to plan. Parents of children with cancer know all about this.
March 2020: We were in the midst of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. But we were full of hope for our event. We thought the pandemic would be a thing of the past by September. We thought we'd be able to organize this wonderful day of solidarity for children with cancer. But we were soon faced with the reality that we weren't going to be able to do it.
Our Day4life event would not take place in 2020, too many uncertainties linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.
And yet, this event is really very important for Zoé4life: not only for the visibility it offers to the cause we defend: childhood cancer, but above all for the fundraising it generates. The money raised on the day is crucial to financing the help we give to families and the research projects we support.
Between March and May 2021 We ask ourselves the question over and over again: Are we going to do our event or not? No, yes, maybe. So many doubts.
June : Hope is returning, because the efforts of science have paid off: a vaccine has been found. We also know more about the virus that changed our lives. A light at the end of the tunnel, with the same question still unanswered: do we do it or not? So many events are canceling each other out around us, that we're still in doubt.
Then measures were relaxed everywhere, and life returned to a semblance of normality. Vaccination was well underway. We believe in it, we're going to make it our event!
But it's going to be short. We need to put together a sponsorship file with interesting counterparts for our sponsors. Time is running out, but we need to contact companies and present the project to them before the summer, when many are on vacation.
We are looking for information on event restrictions.
There's a lot of talk about the covid passport. Will it be necessary or not? Will we have to close our village and control access?
Everything can still change between now and September, but we have to move forward.
We can't risk our event becoming a cluster. What anguish! Big doubt: do we do it or not?
But the world of childhood cancer needs us! We need to ensure the protection of everyone present, especially children with cancer and their loved ones, who often take part in our event.
So it's decided: Day4life will take place, with admission reserved for COVID passport holders (aged 16 and over).
Unfortunately, it's too late to organize our famous Challenge de Zoé. Teams will be invited to show their solidarity by coming along to the day, which is taking on the appearance of a mini-festival.
The summer vacations are approaching, and it's late, very late. But we're working twice as hard, chasing sponsors, volunteers, artists, children's activity leaders, looking for barriers to close off the village, the cotton candy machine, the popcorn machine and the pancake griddle.
July We feel a bit like we're in a race against time. Because yes, there's Day4life, but there's everything else. The day-to-day running of the association, Septembre en OR, family support to manage, research projects to follow, the online store to set up, the website to update and future events. But every day we remind ourselves why we work so hard for Zoé4life: Children with cancer.
Despite the higher costs, and fewer sponsors, entry to the village will remain free. We are appealing for donations to help us cover the extra costs involved in implementing measures to guarantee everyone's safety:
Probably some won't come because of the measures put in place.
- We remember that what children with cancer go through on a daily basis is far more restrictive and painful than the measures put in place to take part in our event.
- We remember that these children and their families will probably never get their lives back.
- We remember that children undergoing treatment receive hundreds and hundreds of injections.
- If you're resistant to the vaccine, you should know that a little smear in the nose is not "the mother to drink" when you know that most children undergoing treatment have to wear nasogastric tubes that are threaded through their noses and into their stomachs. And every time they vomit, the tube comes out and has to be put back in.
- We remember that the products injected into their bodies are far more violent than a vaccine, and that many of us are ready to vaccinate to protect them.
- We're reminding ourselves that we should be able to provide financial support to no less than a hundred families thanks to our event.
- We remember that together we can make a difference for children with cancer.
So get your diary and save the date of September 25, and come and find us, because if we always need you, this time we need you even more!
Do we do it or not?
We're doing it, and we're counting on you!
