On Saturday May 13, 115 drivers of sports and vintage cars, supported by nearly 50 partners, met at the Château de Goulaine for the 3rd Nantes edition of the Rallye du Coeur de Nantes. For one day, these big-hearted pilots rode in solidarity against childhood and teenager cancer.
Having become the 1st charity rally in France’ west region, the Rallye du Coeur de Nantes has once again broken all fundraising records in order to fight against the leading cause of death by illness among children over the age of one in France and in Europe. “In three years, the Rallye du Cœur de Nantes has become a flagship event for all of us. A huge thank you to the entire Rallye du Cœur de Nantes team, to all the ambassadors, to all the partners and crews involved who have achieved a new edition of all records. They give many smiles to children every year and greatly accelerate the fight against pediatric cancers. It is by continuing to mobilize together that we will win this fight for life. GO, DRIVE, WIN for a world with cancer-free children! continues Patricia Blanc, Founding President of the Imagine for Margo association.
Indeed, during this solidarity day, each pilot sponsored a little warrior, some of whom were at a distance and drove to accelerate this fight for life. Thanks to their exceptional mobilization, the generosity of the drivers, their donors, partners and sponsors, €187,500 was collected.
For Geoffroy de Susbielle, Director of the Rallye du Coeur de Nantes, it is a real pleasure to organize a “new record edition for the Rallye du Coeur de Nantes which continues to grow and accelerate research against childhood cancer with Imagine for Margo. This year, all the partners have renewed their commitment and the crews have done a colossal job of collecting donations to hand over this superb check for €187,500 to the association. Thanks to them ! Thank you also to the National Gendarmerie who did us the honor of giving us the check by helicopter. Finally, like last year, we were welcomed in this setting that is the Château de Goulaine. Under a radiant sun, the day could only be beautiful! The financial result and the smiles of the dozens of children present and their families did the rest… Can’t wait for 2024 for a new solidarity edition! »
€187,500 COLLECTED FOR RESEARCH AND THE WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS DURING THE RALLYE DU COEUR DE NANTES 2023
The funds collected during this solidarity event will finance three things:
- A scientific study by SFCE and INSERM
- A well-being project for children followed at the Nantes University Hospital
- Fight Kids Cancer: the call for projects that boosts cancer research in Europe
Indeed, the program of Doctor Franck Verrechia of INSERM, resulting from the call for projects evaluated by the Scientific Council of the SFCE (French Society for the fight against cancer and leukemia in children and teenagers), was selected to receive funding from Imagine for Margo. This study aims at investigating the role of calcium in the development of Ewing sarcomas and rhabdomyosarcomas. After blood cancers and brain tumours, sarcomas are the most common pediatric tumours. There are soft tissue sarcomas (the most common are rhabdomyosarcomas) and bone sarcomas (including Ewing’s sarcomas). Despite progress, the survival rate remains very low, especially for patients who do not respond to treatment or present with metastases on diagnosis. The goal is to find new therapeutic avenues to stop the development of the tumor but also that of metastases and therefore make chemotherapy more effective.
Another part of the funds will be used to act on the well-being of children followed in the pediatric oncology department of the Nantes University Hospital (equipment, activities, etc.). Imagine for Margo and its partner Le Rallye du Cœur have decided to renew the funding allowing the socio-aesthetic activity at the Nantes University Hospital for one year.
Florence Hervouet, socio-esthetician: “The socio-aesthetic care provided during the sessions allows children with cancer to help them maintain their identity and regain self-esteem. A sweet break, relaxation, advice and personalized care to overcome some of the adverse effects related to the heavy treatments they undergo. The objective is to provide them with comfort, appeasement, reassurance in order to promote the healing process in the face of the disease”.
Finally, the remaining funds will be allocated to the Fight Kids Cancer call for projects created in 2020 by the Imagine for Margo association, the Belgian Kick Cancer foundation and the Luxembourg Kriibskrank Kanner foundation. The latter, carried out in collaboration with the ESF – European Science Foundation – and a committee of international scientific experts, aims at accelerating research against childhood cancer. In just 3 years, Fight Kids Cancer has allocated more than 12 million euros to research in order to fund 18 innovative programs.
Patricia Blanc: “Fight Kids Cancer offers new hope to the 35,000 children who are diagnosed with cancer each year in Europe. Thanks to events such as the Rallyes du Coeur which finance this new tool, we have given a real boost to research. A huge thank you to all those who help us and allow us to act to win this fight for life.
It is by continuing to mobilize together that we win this fight for life which affects 2,500 children in France every year. GO, DRIVE, WIN for a world with cancer-free children!
