The Haute-Marne League Against Cancer Committee held its general meeting on Friday, April 10th. The event was marked by energy, good humor, and the tangible impact of its mobilization, supported by citizen engagement. It was a chance to understand where the funds raised come from and where they go, especially at a time when cancer continues to progress.
Following national guidelines, the Haute-Marne League Against Cancer committee continues its actions focused on four main missions: seeking a cure, prevention to protect (informing, raising awareness, preventing to effectively combat cancer), supporting to improve the quality of life of patients and their families, and mobilizing society against cancer. These missions were highlighted during the annual general meeting of the departmental committee on April 10th at the Chaumont Ifsi premises. The year 2025 was marked by a decrease in the number of traditional events, with three meals and two dances, compared to six and two dances the previous year.
A meal organized in Illoud raised €3,081.95, another in Voisines yielded €1,565.23. Meanwhile, a solidarity event in Cohons brought in €1,950.32. Laëtitia Bourgadel, a delegate from the Joinville area, mobilized funds through two dances, raising €1,583.86 in February 2024 and €1,122.54 in November. A bingo in the Poissons town hall was also successful, generating €1,927.48.
Meetings were organized in Bourbonne and Bologne to revitalize local dynamics. In Bourbonne, while no one wanted to take up the mantle, actions like marches and rose sales during “Une rose, un espoir” resumed.
As part of the Mars Bleu operation (focused on prostate cancer), marches were organized in Bourbonne and Saint-Dizier, along with awareness stands for colorectal cancer screening at the clinics in Chaumont, Langres, and the Saint-Dizier hospital. The “Une rose, un espoir” operation involved bikers covering the department’s roads and selling roses, raising €27,500. This fund was earmarked for the cancer research projects of Dr. Samuel Abbou of the Gustave-Roussy Institute on childhood and adolescent bone cancer.
More efforts are scheduled, such as September in Gold, dedicated to pediatric cancer. October Rose, dedicated to breast cancer, also saw contributions through “Le Soutien Rose” on October 5th in Chaumont. Altogether, October Rose raised €114,544, including a €60,000 donation from the firefighters of Haute-Marne.
The aging of teams and the decrease in the number of volunteers remain significant concerns, as highlighted during the general meeting.
Support for regional and national programs:
Several programs received support, including research on prostate cancer, lung cancer, adolescent oncology, bone tumors in children and adolescents, breast cancer research at the Curie Institute in Paris, and research at the Jacques Monod Institute.
Regional programs were also backed, with funds going to cancer research at various institutions. The total amount allocated to research by Committee 52 was €174,729.
The importance of daily support:
The committee continues to focus on developing support services – financial, oncological, or technical – to help cancer patients on a day-to-day basis. These services aim to address vital expenses, offer various therapeutic and support activities, and promote social interactions among patients.
Dr. Sophie Renard’s contribution to the Oncology Institute of Lorraine:
Dr. Sophie Renard, an oncologist and curietherapist at the Oncology Institute of Lorraine in Nancy, received financial support of €7,674 for medical equipment, specifically a 3D printer for surface curietherapy.
Photos from the event:
Two images were presented showing the Haute-Marne League 52 team and others presenting a check of €15,007.32 for support.
