The atmosphere was festive this November 7, 2024 at the Royal Museums of Art and History in Brussels to celebrate the 25th anniversary of BIG. The organization supporting breast cancer research organized its annual gala, in the presence of patrons and a representative of the Belgian royal family, Princess Léa. For this special birthday, a princess made a surprise appearance during dessert!
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Princess Léa of Belgium celebrates 25 years of BIG
Every year, BIG against breast cancer can count on its patrons, many of whom respond to the invitation to a major gala in a prestigious venue. This year’s gala was special since it also celebrated the group’s 25th anniversary. The idea of BIG was born from the meeting between professors Martine Piccart and Aron Goldhirsch in 1996. BIG was founded, as a legal entity, in 1999.
BIG, whose mission is to facilitate and accelerate breast cancer research internationally, has Queen Mathilde as its honorary president. The Queen of the Belgians had also done the honor of attending a session the day before to share information during round tables. Queen Mathilde discussed several themes with patients, researchers, specialists, BIG ambassadors and patrons.
On Thursday, November 7, Princess Léa of Belgium ensured a royal presence at this gala, organized in one of the reception rooms of the Royal Museums of Art and History, at the Parc du Cinquantenaire. Princess Léa, aunt of King Philippe, gave her support to the actions carried out by BIG again breast cancer, the philanthropic branch of BIG. The gala is used in particular to finance trials and academic research on breast cancer.
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Princess Anne-Elizabeth de Merode comes out of the birthday cake with her violin
During the evening full of surprises, oncologist Martine Piccart, ennobled baroness in 2007 by King Albert II, spoke with great emotion. Martine Piccart notably returned to the creation of BIG with her colleague Aron Goldhirsch. Aron Goldhirsch died in 2020 and was succeeded as president by Dr David Cameron.
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After a fillet of tender sea bass with ikura pearls and a tender Malines cuckoo with small root vegetables, a 2.40 meter birthday cake arrived in the room. The cake, created and donated by royal pastry chef Michael Lewis-Anderson, included a surprise. Under the amazed gaze of Princess Léa, another princess burst out of the cake with her violin. Princess Anne-Elizabeth de Merode is a talented violinist, who performed the famous tune of “Happy Birthday” accompanied by the singing of the guests. Princess Anne-Elizabeth is the daughter of Prince Armand and the granddaughter of the former head of the family, Prince Xavier.
Michael Lewis-Anderson, who notably made the wedding cake for King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, imagined this creation taking inspiration from travels. Red hearts garnished the cake. The hearts are reminiscent of the cherries found on cassatelle di sant’Agataa pastry from southern Italy also known in certain regions as those of St. Agata. These breast-shaped cakes are made on St. Agatha’s Day, in honor of this 3rd century Sicilian saint. The martyr had her breasts torn off with pincers. Today she is the patron saint of nannies and people with breast cancer.
The cake was pale pink, a color associated with the fight against breast cancer, with white drapes held together by small pink bows. The small bows are also well-known symbols of support for this cause, pinned each year during the month of October to the buttonhole.
The tables were also decorated with bouquets of gerberas, a surprise reserved by BIG for this anniversary year. For its 25th anniversary, BIG had its own gerbera created by BeFlorist. This flower symbolizes hope, progress and the fight against breast cancer. BIG gerberas were also present on the birthday cake.
Nicolas Fontaine
Editor-in-chief
Nicolas Fontaine has been a designer-editor and author for numerous Belgian and French brands and media. A specialist in royal family news, Nicolas founded the site Histoires royales of which he is the editor-in-chief. [email protected]
