As part of our commitment to supporting impactful philanthropic initiatives, the Transnational Giving Europe (TGE) network was honored to facilitate an inspiring event at Lausanne’s Olympic Museum on May 31st, 2024. The event focused on advancing brain disorder research, particularly the fight against Charcot’s disease (ALS), highlighted by a screening of the documentary Invincible Summer. Thanks to the collaboration between TGE and the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation, Swiss donors were able to contribute to this vital cause while benefiting from tax advantages, demonstrating the power of cross-border generosity.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – for me, it’s too late. I am asking you to give tonight, not for me, but in order to bring hope to future generations.” With these powerful words, French fintech entrepreneur Olivier Goy appealed to a packed audience who had come to watch his film, Invincible Summer, in Lausanne’s Olympic Museum on May 31st 2024. This special event in support of brain disorder research was made possible thanks to the TGE network and its partner in Switzerland, the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation. We look back on an unforgettable event.
In December 2020, at the age of 46, Olivier Goy and his family received some devasting news. What he had thought to be tendonitis turned out to be a symptom of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Charcot’s disease: a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with an expected prognosis of between 3 and 5 years. However, in the depths of winter, Olivier found within himself an invincible strength: a determination to use what time he has left to make a real difference to the lives of others. The documentary Invincible Summer – Invincible Eté in French – charts his quest to create renewed meaning from his life and explores the journey of three other inspirational people who live with life-limiting conditions.
From early on after receiving his diagnosis, Olivier wanted to use his platform to advance the fight against ALS. He became an ambassador for Paris Brain Institute: an international center of excellence for research into all aspects of the brain. Since 2021, Olivier Goy has raised almost two million Euros to support the work of the ALS team at Paris Brain Institute, through profits from his film showings, sale of merchandize, and fundraising appeals. Paris Brain Institute has a sizeable community of donors and supporters in Switzerland and two of them, Mmes Véronique De Kepper and Virginie Loverius, came together to organize this showing of Invincible Summer for Swiss audiences.
Lausanne’s famous Olympic Museum played host to the event, generously offering the use of its facilities for free. Guests were invited to make a donation to support ALS research at Paris Brain Institute. The TGE partnership with the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation meant that Swiss residents – who made up 80% of the audience – were able to make their donations and receive a tax receipt valid in their own canton of residence. This enabled several individuals and businesses to make sizeable gifts that would not have been possible without the TGE network.
The showing of Invincible Summer was followed by a discussion between Mr Goy and Dr Christian Lobsiger, a researcher in Paris Brain Institute’s ALS team who is a Swiss national. Dr Lobsiger lost his own father to ALS so was uniquely placed to understand Olivier’s experience as a father of two. After the formal part of the evening ended with a standing ovation for Mr Goy, the guests were invited to mingle over refreshments in the Museum’s lobby. Many people had travelled from far afield to attend, such as one young woman who had driven over 100km. Her own mother had recently been diagnosed with ALS and, while the film had moved her to tears, she found solace and strength in Mr Goy’s story. Another audience member, whose close friend has ALS, was inspired to visit Paris Brain Institute and has now decided to organize a showing of Invincible Summer in Geneva this December to fundraise for the cause.
These two women, and thousands of others who have been touched by Invincible Summer, are part of Olivier Goy’s incredible legacy. Paris Brain Institute offers its heartfelt thanks to Mr Goy for his relentless commitment to the fight against ALS. Mr Goy: you truly are invincible.
- To learn more about Olivier Goy and support ALS research, visit: https://www.invincible-ete.com/photo-contre-don
- To make a donation to Paris Brain Institute from any country in the TGE network, visit: https://institutducerveau-icm.org/en/make-donation-outside-france/
To learn more about Olivier Goy and the release of his book, please see: https://www.invincible-ete.com/livre - For details of the film showing of Invincible Summer in Geneva this December, contact Molly Goyer Gorman: [email protected]
- To watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJpeJvyDFcw
- To distribute this film: https://www.invincible-summer.net/where