Every night in September, the façade of the castle is illuminated in red.
For the fourth year running, the Château de Cheverny is supporting the campaign to provide information and raise awareness about blood cancers.
45,000 people affected in France
Every year, blood cancers affect around 45,000 people in France, representing 12% of new cancer cases! (source: Santé Publique France) However, blood cancers are less likely to be the subject of prevention or awareness campaigns than certain other cancers.
Beyond leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, there are many other types of blood cancer, each with different progression and treatments. Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are a rare type of blood cancer caused by gene mutations in the bone marrow.
In many countries, September is dedicated to raising awareness about blood cancers. The association "Living with MNP" has therefore decided to raise awareness about this issue in the UK in order to inform as many people as possible about blood cancers through Red September.
An operation
This fourth edition is supported by the French Blood Establishment, the SFH (French Society of Haematology), the FIM (France Intergroupe des Syndromes Myéloprolifératifs), the SFGM-TC (Société Francophone de Greffe de Moelle et de Thérapie Cellulaire), FILMC (France Intergroupe des Leucémies Myéloïdes Chroniques), European Reference Networks, AIH (Association des Internes en Hématologie), IACH (International Academy for Clinical Hematology), Fondation Groupama Vaincre les maladies rares and the Press Club de France. Not to mention the institutional support of Novartis, GSK and AOP Orphan laboratories.
The owners of Cheverny Castle, Charles-Antoine and Constance de Vibraye, who lost a godson to leukaemia at the age of 36 in February 2022, were the first to agree to join the project. Since then, various local authorities have joined the initiative by agreeing to light up town halls, municipal buildings and monuments in red for a few days or a month: La Rochelle (17), Louviers (27), Fleurance (32), Château de Cheverny (41), Orléans (45), Arras (62), Oloron-Sainte-Marie (64), Barr (67), Molsheim (67), Mulhouse (68), Paris (75017), Saint Nicolas d'Aliermont (76), Amiens (80), Toulon (83), Herblay (95), etc.