(L-R) Grand Duke Guillaume; Claude, suvivor; Elizabeth, survivor; Michel, survivor; Grand Duchess Stéphanie;
Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu
On Saturday 21 and Sunday 23 March 2026, the 21st edition of Relais pour la Vie (Relay for Life), a fundraising event organised by Fondation Cancer, took place at the Coque sports centre in Luxembourg-Kirchberg.
According to the foundation, 547 teams took part in the 2026 edition of Relais pour la Vie, bringing together 15,310 participants. Team members (24 to 48 per team) took turns running or walking over a 24-hour period, from 19:00 on Saturday until 19:00 on Sunday.
Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg attended the opening ceremony of Relais pour la Vie on Saturday, alongside several members of the Luxembourg government, including ministers Yuriko Backes, Eric Thill, Gilles Roth, Max Hahn, Martine Deprez, Léon Gloden and Stéphanie Obertin, as well as representatives of various municipalities.
The opening ceremony featured a performance by Dance School Cathy Moes by Li Marteling, followed by a speech from Fondation Cancer President Dr Carole Bauer.
In her address, Carole Bauer described Relais pour la Vie as “a powerful symbol of hope and solidarity” and stressed that “the fight for life is a shared responsibility”. She also highlighted the importance of collective action, noting that “only together can we improve care and support for patients”.
Luxembourg’s Minister for Health and Social Security, Martine Deprez, also addressed participants, highlighting the emotional dimension of the event. Referring to a quote by Maya Angelou, she noted that “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”.
She described Relais pour la Vie as a moment “full of emotions”, bringing together people affected by cancer in different ways, and emphasised that “those who are touched by the disease are not alone”. She also underlined the importance of presence and engagement, stating that “engagement makes the difference”.
Three cancer survivors, Michel, Elizabeth and Claude, also shared their personal stories with those present. Their testimonies highlighted the challenges of returning to everyday life after illness, while emphasising the importance of staying active, seeking support and not facing the experience alone. They also underlined the need for greater understanding and empathy in society towards those living with and beyond cancer.
The Grand Ducal couple then presented the survivors with symbolic roses and posed for a commemorative photo. This was followed by the “Survivor & Caregiver Tour”, during which around 400 survivors and their caregivers walked through the arena, receiving sustained applause from participants and official guests.
The ceremony continued with the presentation of the teams, which subsequently set off for this year’s Relais pour la Vie.
On Sunday, the relay concluded at 19:00, after which the Candle Ceremony took place. Thousands of personalised candles were lit in tribute to those affected by cancer, marking one of the most moving moments of the weekend, as noted by the organisers.
As of Monday morning, a total of €482,966 had been raised, according to the official Relais pour la Vie website.
