I am delighted to report that Professor Stéphane Richard won the top prize in the category of cancer research in the Victories of Medicine 2006. This is a national competition among teams nominated by their hospitals for outstanding work in Medicine.

I am going to tell you a bit about the series of events in this memorable evening. We arrived at the Variety Theater in Paris for the ceremony. The team was seated on the stage. Our Guy (Guy Allegre, the patient advocate in Dr. Richard’s group) was seated in the orchestra. Professor Richard, like the great “star” that he already is, arrived a little later. With all of us waving to get his attention, he appeared on stage. We all had a program with the names of the nominees. Oh, horrors! on page 11 the photo of Dr. Richard. Honestly and totally objectively, the photo was hideous and not at all flattering. It was taken when he was speaking. Clearly, looking down from our perch, we could see all his nervousness.

The cancer research category arrived at last. Three nominees, thus three short reports were shown on film. We all held our breath for the 30 seconds of the voting. And believe me, 30 seconds is a long time. Then the announcement of the results, “The winner is Professor ...” an interminable suspense. We all crossed our fingers and wondered if all the other nominees were also professors... (all this during 10 seconds) “ ... RICHARD”

And then, an explosion of joy. A real cheering section, a great joyous shout was heard. Professor Richard was applauded enthusiastically. And I admit that I spilled a tear or two. I thought of all of you. This victory is synonymous with a great recognition of our malady, for all of you and for the work of Professor Richard. He was very moved when he accepted the prize.

Afterward they had a little cocktail party. You can imagine of course that the Chief was kept quite busy with photos, interviews, and hand-shaking.

I hope that this victory will work to the benefit first of all of you -- families affected by VHL -- who are the real winners of this evening.

There is a video clip of the event on the website. Even if your French isn’t very good you can appreciate the tone and the excitement of this event.

Click here for video: Choose --- Windows Media Player ---- Quicktime

The film tells the story of the pretty woman (Juliette) who has VHL, passed to her from her father. Dr. Richard explains the importance of a careful program of surveillance, and a whole-body approach to the problem.

After receiving the award he thanks his team of 15, and his 50 or so collaborators throughout the French-speaking world. “VHL is often relegated to the standing of a rare disease,” he explains, “but what people don’t realize is that VHL is also at the base of treatment of metastatic kidney cancer for people in the general population as well.”

As printed in the VHL Family Forum 15:1, January 2007. For permission to reprint, please contact VHL Family Alliance, editor@vhl.org. Further information is available from the VHL Family Alliance, info@vhl.org.