Rallye du Cœur Normandie 2026: €171,858 Raised at Château de Carel for Children

For its second edition, the Rallye du Cœur de Normandie once again took place at Château de Carel, an exceptional setting in the heart of the Calvados region.

Throughout the day, car enthusiasts, drivers, partners and families came together with one shared goal: to support children affected by cancer and offer them a special day away from the daily challenges of illness.

The concept behind the Rallye du Cœur is simple: owners of sports and classic cars take part in a fundraising challenge and welcome a child living with cancer as their co-driver for the day.

From discovering exceptional vehicles to enjoying activities, sharing special moments and driving through the Normandy countryside, the event provided an opportunity to create precious memories for the children and their families.

Beyond the passion for cars, solidarity was at the heart of this second edition.

Thanks to the commitment of 127 participating crews, corporate partners, donors and volunteers, this second Normandy edition raised an impressive €171,858, exceeding the amount collected during its inaugural edition.

All funds raised will go towards supporting childhood cancer research and initiatives aimed at improving the well-being of children with cancer and their families.

This year, the funds raised by the Normandy community will help support three major research projects, selected through the Page d’accueil – SFCE – Société Française Cancers Enfant and the Fight Kids Cancer programme.

These projects have complementary objectives: developing new therapeutic approaches, improving long-term follow-up for young cancer survivors and gaining a better understanding of particularly aggressive forms of childhood cancer.

Understanding Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphomas

The first project, led by Dr Benoît Heid-Picard (AP-HP), will be entirely funded by the Rallye du Cœur de Normandie.

It aims to improve our understanding of aggressive lymphomas associated with the Epstein-Barr virus in children with weakened immune systems.

These cancers can be particularly difficult to treat. By gaining deeper insight into the mechanisms behind their development, researchers hope to identify new approaches that could improve treatments and offer better prospects for the young patients affected.

Preventing cardiovascular complications after childhood cancer

The second project is led by Dr Brice Fresneau at Gustave Roussy and co-funded with Rallye du Cœur en Nord.

Conducted across several hospitals in France, including those in Caen and Rouen, this study focuses on the long-term cardiovascular effects of radiotherapy in children treated for cancer.

Some treatments can cause premature ageing of the arteries, increasing the risk of cardiovascular complications in adulthood.

The aim is to detect these changes as early as possible, identify patients at risk and provide them with appropriate follow-up care.

Because curing a child of cancer also means giving them the opportunity to grow up and build their future in the best possible conditions.

THEODORA-B: An innovative therapeutic vaccine against Ewing sarcoma

The third project, THEODORA-B, is led by Dr Amaury Leruste at Institut Curie.

It focuses on Ewing sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that primarily affects the bones of children, teenagers and young adults.

Given the limitations of current treatments, particularly for patients at high risk of relapse, researchers aim to evaluate a new immunotherapy approach based on a therapeutic vaccine.

Unlike a conventional preventive vaccine, this treatment is designed to train the patient’s immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells.

Up to 45 young patients may take part in this clinical trial, which could open up new therapeutic possibilities for treating this disease.

Together, these three projects highlight the importance of continuing research efforts to develop more effective, better-adapted and less toxic treatments for children.

Beyond funding research, the Rallye du Cœur de Normandie also helps support families facing childhood cancer.

Part of the funds raised will therefore go towards supporting a respite weekend organised in partnership with Dana Escape, specifically designed for parents of children with cancer.

When illness turns a family’s daily life upside down, opportunities to rest and recharge become especially precious.

During this stay, parents will be able to enjoy a break from the demands of medical care, connect with other families, take part in workshops and receive compassionate support.

This initiative is a valuable reminder that supporting children with cancer also means taking care of their loved ones.

With this second Normandy edition, the 2026 Rallye du Cœur season comes to a close following an outstanding collective effort.

Imagine for Margo would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to the entire Rallye du Cœur de Normandie team for their dedication and commitment throughout this edition.

A huge thank you also goes to the 127 participating crews, drivers, corporate partners, volunteers, donors and everyone who helped make this day an unforgettable experience for the children and their families.

Thanks to this incredible chain of solidarity, new research projects will receive vital support and families will be able to enjoy precious moments of respite.

Together, let’s keep fighting for a world where no child has to face cancer.

GO, DRIVE, WIN!

Every donation counts towards supporting research and helping families.