Forty-eight children receiving treatment at hospitals across France and their families were welcomed to Monaco on Friday 5th June for a day away from illness, organised in the margins of the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix.
The children, aged between 4 and 22 and covering a range of conditions, came from hospitals in Nice, Marseille, Béziers and Paris, as well as from the Monaco Police. Together with their families, nearly a hundred guests gathered for a day built around one idea: that for a few hours, the illness could wait.
Prince Albert distributes gifts in person
The day was marked by the presence of Prince Albert II, who came to meet the children personally. Princess Charlene, unable to attend, ensured she was part of the occasion by sending official caps through her assistant — and it was Prince Albert himself who handed them out to each child individually, before taking photographs with them.
Former Formula 1 driver Raoul Marchisio was also among the guests, spending time with the children answering questions, signing autographs and taking pictures.
A 190-degree view of the start line
The group was hosted on a terrace at the Albatros, offering a 190-degree panorama over Monaco’s harbour and the iconic start line. Several children were also taken to Fontvieille to watch the Porsche cars up close at the start of their race. For many of them, it was their first visit to the Principality.
“The children’s eyes were sparkling with joy,” the organisers said. “Seeing Monaco like that, for them, it was simply ‘wow’. It was an intense moment that opened everyone’s hearts and brought immense happiness.”
A chain of generosity
The day was made possible by a network of partners and volunteers. The terrace was provided by Mélissa Kergal. The buffet was donated by Gregory Rougaignon de Aroca, with pizzas from Bella Vista, drinks from Super U in Beaulieu, and salads and a birthday cake were collected from Amore Mio by Monacooli. Monaco’s parking authority assisted with logistics, and Sylvain Peroumal filmed the day to create a souvenir film for the families.
Fifteen years of dedication
At the heart of the event was Carla Shechter, who has been organising this kind of event for 15 years. Present throughout, attentive to every child and every family, she was described by the organisers as the driving force behind the occasion.
The day was, in the organisers’ own words, “a true moment of happiness suspended in time” — one in which illness gave way, for a few hours, to laughter, shared memories and the spectacle of Monaco at its most electric.
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Photos source: Monaco Liver DisorderÂ