Le Rire Médecin this year celebrates its 20th anniversary. American Caroline Simonds founded the French association after learning about hospital clowns in the United States. The association now employs 87 clowns who perform in 37 paedriatric services around France. The hospital clowns help children often confined to their beds to forget loneliness and fears, and they can even help relieve pain by distracting children at key moments during their often painful treatment.
