Night of the Snow

The «night of stars» - 25 years of charity. The annual «Night of the Snow», a gala dedicated to raising funds for charity, is already a time-honoured tradition in the Valais, the home canton of FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter. On 23 February 2008, to mark its 25th anniversary, the gala concentrated on football and the fight against cancer, represented by the Sepp Blatter Humanity and Football Foundation and A.V.E.C. («Association pour la Vie-Espoir contre le Cancer»), an organisation dedicated to the fight against cancer.

The Presidents of the two organisations, Joseph S. Blatter and Professor David Khayat, as well as more than 500 guests were treated to musical entertainment from Les Forbans und Enrico Macias as well as to the anchoring skills of Stéphane Bern of French TV fame.

Foundation President Linda Barras was able to welcome such illustrious guests as UEFA President Michel Platini, former Swiss international stars Jean-Paul Brigger and Stéphane Chapuisat and FC Sion President Christian Constantin, as well as Adriana and Christian Karembeu to the 25th event. «We try to use sport to make life more beautiful,» said Christian Karembeu, a FIFA World Cup winner with France in 1998.

The funds raised through donations and a tombola will be used to support projects of both organisations. «All of the money raised will be used to set up a research centre for targeted therapy,» explained Prof. Khayat. The Sepp Blatter Humanity and Football Foundation will invest the money in football projects and to support charitable organisations and activities in the Valais this year. In 2006, for example, the foundation of FIFA President Blatter gave an award, which carries a cash prize of 25,000 Swiss francs, to an organisation for disabled sport in the Upper Valais (BSOW) in order to give disabled people improved access to sports equipment.