Three Stand-Up Comedy Workshops at Gustave Roussy: A First for Imagine for Margo

What if humour could also find its place in hospitals? For the first time, Imagine for Margo partnered with Humour d’Utilité Publique (HUP) and comedian Merwan Sali to organise three stand-up comedy workshops for children and teenagers receiving treatment at Gustave Roussy. This unique initiative gave young participants the opportunity to express themselves, develop their creativity, and share moments of laughter away from the challenges of cancer treatment.

Bringing stand-up comedy into a hospital: this was the challenge taken on by Imagine for Margo and the association Humour d’Utilité Publique (HUP), alongside comedian Merwan Sali.

Through three workshops held at Gustave Roussy, the goal was simple: to offer children and teenagers undergoing cancer treatment a different kind of experience, where they could have fun, build their self-confidence, and let their imaginations run free.

This initiative marked a first for Imagine for Margo.

Since 2011, the association has been working to accelerate childhood cancer research, while also striving to improve the daily lives of hospitalised children and support their families.

Beyond medical treatments, appointments, and hospital stays, children also need opportunities to enjoy new experiences, discover activities, and share moments that reflect who they are.

This project was born from that shared belief: humour can be a powerful way to bring people together and give young patients the opportunity to express themselves differently.

Over the course of three sessions, the young participants were introduced to the world of stand-up comedy alongside Merwan Sali.

Far more than simply watching a comedy show, stand-up invites everyone to become an active participant.

It encourages people to observe everyday life, identify what makes them laugh, and turn their ideas into short stories to share with others.

It is an exercise that requires imagination, but also courage. After all, writing a joke is one thing; finding the confidence to tell it in front of an audience is quite another!

These workshops were designed to make stand-up accessible to everyone, without pressure or expectations.

Each participant could take part at their own pace, according to their interests and level of comfort.

With Merwan Sali’s guidance, the children and teenagers were encouraged to explore their creativity and discover the different aspects of humour.

The objective was not to turn them into professional comedians in just three sessions, but to offer them a new experience in which their personalities, ideas, and spontaneity could truly shine.

As the sessions progressed, stand-up became a way to connect, have fun, and, above all, find the courage to try something new.

And sometimes, simply daring to give something a try can lead to wonderful surprises.

Among the young participants, Pauline showed remarkable enthusiasm and dedication throughout the workshops.

Passionate about stand-up comedy, she attended the sessions with great commitment from the very beginning.

For her, these workshops were an opportunity to explore an art form she already loved and to try her hand at writing comedy.

But during the third and final workshop, Pauline had prepared a surprise.

At the end of the session, she announced that she had written her very own three-minute comedy routine.

Three minutes may sound short, but in the world of stand-up comedy, it is already a real challenge.

It requires finding ideas, structuring a story, choosing how to deliver the jokes, and, most importantly, finding the courage to perform in front of an audience.

To give this special moment the attention it deserved, an idea quickly emerged: why not transform the workshop room into a real comedy venue?

Members of the hospital department were invited to attend, and Merwan Sali joined in by warming up the audience, just as he would during a professional stand-up show.

The room, usually dedicated to workshops, took on a completely different atmosphere.

For a few moments, it was no longer simply an activity taking place in a hospital, but a genuine performance built around the creativity and determination of one young participant.

What began as an introduction to stand-up comedy had become a personal project, driven by Pauline’s passion and motivation.

Her experience perfectly captured the spirit of the three workshops: giving young people the opportunity to try, create, and find their voice.

And reminding us that even in hospital, a passion can continue to grow.

When a child or teenager is diagnosed with cancer, everyday life can quickly become dominated by medical treatments, examinations, and hospital stays.

In this context, preserving moments of lightness, connection, and happiness becomes particularly important.

Of course, humour cannot make an illness disappear or replace medical treatment.

But it can provide a welcome escape, creating a space where medical concerns are no longer at the centre of attention.

During a stand-up comedy workshop, young people are not simply patients.

They become participants, writers, creators, and sometimes even aspiring comedians.

They can talk about what makes them laugh, tell stories, make fun of themselves, or simply share a moment of laughter with others.

This freedom of expression lies at the heart of the work carried out by Humour d’Utilité Publique.

The association promotes the idea that humour can help build self-confidence, encourage social connections, and bring people together, particularly during difficult periods of life.

At Gustave Roussy, the three workshops provided an opportunity to explore this approach in an environment where moments of escape from medical routines are especially valuable.

Pauline’s story also highlights another important aspect of the initiative: the pride that comes from creating something independently, discovering one’s abilities, and sharing them with others.

These experiences are about more than the laughter they inspire.

They also allow young people to create memories associated with discovery, achievement, and personal passions.

Behind these moments of joy, a difficult reality remains: childhood cancer continues to affect thousands of families every year.

In France, 2,500 children and teenagers are diagnosed with cancer each year, and nearly 500 lose their lives to the disease.

Cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease among children.

Childhood cancers differ from adult cancers and require specific treatments and dedicated research.

Yet funding for childhood cancer research remains insufficient compared with the scale of the challenges.

Since 2011, Imagine for Margo has been committed to advancing this cause by funding innovative research programmes in France and across Europe.

Thanks to the generosity of its donors and partners, the association has allocated more than €30 million to childhood cancer research.

Through the programmes supported alongside its European partners, more than 10,000 children have already benefited from personalised treatments.

But the fight does not stop at research.

Imagine for Margo also works to improve the everyday lives of children affected by cancer and to support their families throughout their journey.

The stand-up comedy workshops organised at Gustave Roussy are part of this ongoing commitment to being there for young patients at every stage of their treatment.

Because fighting for a world without childhood cancer also means ensuring that children can continue to experience the joys of childhood and adolescence, despite their illness.

These three stand-up comedy workshops opened a new chapter in Imagine for Margo’s efforts to support hospitalised children.

They demonstrated how an activity centred around humour can become a meaningful space for self-expression, creativity, and human connection.

Pauline’s experience, which led her to write and perform her own comedy routine, is a wonderful illustration of this.

Beyond the jokes and exercises, this initiative highlights the importance of offering young people activities that allow them to explore their interests, discover their abilities, and continue to grow.

Imagine for Margo would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to Merwan Sali, Humour d’Utilité Publique, the teams at Gustave Roussy, and all the young participants who brought these three workshops to life.

Because every smile matters, every shared moment makes a difference, and every act of solidarity brings us closer to our shared goal:

A world without childhood cancer.

Discover more about our fight against childhood cancer, the research programmes we support, and the different ways you can help.

You too can support our initiatives and help advance childhood cancer research.

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