Over 650 volunteers took part, accompanying the sick children, aged from 8 to 14, enabling them to share, discover and learn about sailing, and above all take them far from their daily life and the world of hospitals.
In 2005, Jérémy took part in the event. Here is his account, which gives a good idea of what these children can experience, both in the hospital and especially when they are taken out:
‘My name is Jérémy. I’m now 28 years old. But in 2005, I was only 16. I had leukemia in 2001. I lost up to 30 kg with the treatment and its side effects. I fought, along with my parents, my sister and the family around me. Following a relapse, I had a transplant in 2003.
After the transplant, there were complications, 9 days in a coma following two epileptic seizures. On waking from the coma, I could no longer write or talk; I had also lost my memory and was hemiplegic on my left side. I had physiotherapy, to be able to walk and use my left arm again. That’s a broad outline of what happened.
So why am I talking to you about 2005? Because that’s the year when I took part in ‘Voiles de l’Espoir’ as a child in remission. A wonderful week in the Mediterranean. Cap d’Agde, Port Leucate, Sète, many passages aboard superb sailing boats, helped by wonderful people. Activities, and everything to go with them. All that makes you forget you are ill; you just live and take everything in. It gives you even more fighting spirit...
I spent a crazy week where I lived outside of the hospital world. For me, it’s engraved in my memory for ever. You must always fight, never give up.”
Can you think of a better present than giving a sick child back his or her smile? This is the task that the volunteers from this unique association have set themselves, with the boat and the sea as the vehicle. What more could you ask for?
Bravo to them!
Approved by Multihulls World
Les Voiles de l'Espoir
Organized every second year since 2001, ‘Les Voiles de l’Espoir’ allows around a hundred children to get away from their illness and dream a little. This quite obviously has a cost. You can help the association by making a donation, or, why not, by offering to be volunteer.
For more information: www.lesvoilesdelespoir.com
