A beloved annual cancer fundraiser in Normandy, France, will be postponed this year due to the health challenges of its president. Claudine Lasnon, the president of Cormeilles Rose, a support organization for cancer patients in the Eure region, announced that the organization’s annual walk will not take place in 2026.
Lasnon, 72, is living with Gougerot-Sjögren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease that causes fatigue and joint pain. Although her symptoms were previously manageable, they significantly worsened in 2025, leading to the difficult decision to postpone the event. “The disease left me alone for years, and in 2025, the fatigue really set in and knocked me out,” she explained. “In December, I felt that things weren’t going to get better, and that I wouldn’t be able to organize the 2026 edition.”
A New Leader Takes the Reins
Lasnon intends to use the year as an opportunity to rest and focus on her health, while remaining president of the Cormeilles Fitness Club, where “everything is running smoothly.” She also plans to resume exercising, as the condition impacts her lung capacity. “I hope to treat this and be able to resume my activities later, while being mindful of fatigue,” she said.
Despite stepping back from organizing the walk, Lasnon doesn’t envision relinquishing her leadership role entirely. She has selected Alice Morgant, a 40-year-old neighbor from Morainville-Jouveaux, to succeed her. Morgant is a cancer survivor who has been involved with the organization for three years through the fitness club.
The two women will collaborate to plan the 2027 walk, with the goal of Morgant fully taking over leadership in 2028, while Lasnon remains available to offer guidance. “She knows how essential Cormeilles Rose is to me,” Lasnon emphasized.
Cormeilles Rose is my baby. It’s a beautiful association that everyone loves.
Lasnon’s dedication to the fight against cancer is deeply valued by the association’s members and volunteers, who initially struggled with the idea of holding the 2026 walk without her involvement.
The first Cormeilles Rose walk was held in October 2016 in memory of Valérie Jeanne, who died from breast cancer. The event has grown significantly each year, with various cancer survivors serving as honorary leaders. On April 6, 2025, the tenth annual walk reached a record number of participants, with 1,666 registered walkers.
Cormeilles Rose Continues its Work
The organization raised €20,000 in 2025, which will be donated to two beneficiary organizations: the Maurice-Tubiana Center in Caen and the La Parenthèse association in Pont-Audemer, which provides support care to cancer patients.
Despite the postponement of the walk, donations are still being accepted. “Anyone who wishes to donate can contact me,” Lasnon said. In October 2026, the organization will also host a concert or performance to benefit breast cancer awareness month, as it has done in previous years.
Even with Lasnon’s necessitate to prioritize her health, the spirit of support and compassion she fostered within Cormeilles Rose is expected to endure!
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