On Wednesday, September 23, the Baclesse Center was pleased to welcome volunteers from the Évrecy chapter of “Tulipes contre le cancer” for their traditional donation ceremony.
This year, €18,640 was presented to Professor Roman Rouzier, Executive Director of the Baclesse Center, to help fund the renovation of the patient rooms on the 7th-floor medical ward .
From Tulips to Solidarity Against Cancer
Native to Central Asia and cultivated in the Ottoman Empire, the tulip first appeared in Europe in the16th century. The French traveler and botanist Pierre BELON brought back specimens after a trip to the Ottoman Empire in 1547. The flower gradually took European gardens by storm and became particularly popular in the Netherlands in the following century. Several centuries later, in France, the tulip became the symbol of a tremendous effort to support the fight against cancer.
The “Tulips Against Cancer” campaign began in Normandy in the late 1980s. André BOULLOT, then a technician at an agricultural cooperative in Falaise, came up with the idea of planting available bulbs to support a good cause. The initiative then gradually spread throughout France.
In Évrecy, a commitment spanning more than 20 years
In Évrecy, the Familles Rurales association has been organizing the “Tulips Against Cancer” campaign since 2005. Every year, volunteers come together with the same goal: to foster solidarity in support of the fight against cancer, because a great deal of work goes into those bouquets of tulips. Planting the bulbs, tending to the flowers, picking them, welcoming the public, and rallying support for the campaign— the success of this initiative depends on the energy, dedication, and generosity of the volunteers.
This loyalty to the Baclesse Center is a long-standing commitment.
For more than 20 years, Les Tulipes d’Evrecy has been working alongside the Center to support cancer research and help improve patients’ comfort and well-being.
€18,640 to improve patient comfort
This year, the €18,640 donation will help fund the renovation of the rooms on the7th floor of the Baclesse Center. The goal is to provide hospitalized patients with modernized, warm, comfortable, and ergonomic rooms, designed to contribute to their well-being during their stay.
Beyond aesthetics, the design of a patient room plays a key role in the quality of care. During a treatment journey that can sometimes be long and trying, having a more pleasant, soothing, and functional environment helps make the time spent in the hospital more comfortable.
The planning for these new spaces also takes into account the daily routines of healthcare professionals. More functional rooms make it easier for healthcare teams to perform their tasks and move about, while still providing the space and comfort patients need. The goal is thus to balance the quality of care, patient well-being, and improved working conditions for healthcare professionals.
Generosity That Blooms Every Year
Through this new donation, the volunteers are providing the Baclesse Center with much more than just financial support. Every tulip planted, picked, and offered to the public contributes, in its own small way, to tangibly improving patients’ daily lives.
The Baclesse Center extends its heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers of “Tulips Against Cancer” in Évrecy, as well as to everyone who participates in and supports this initiative.
Thank you for their loyalty, energy, and generosity, which they demonstrate year after year in serving patients and in the fight against cancer.
