Nicolas Crosnier voluntarily delivers procuring on January 14, 2021 in Clermont-Ferrand to fragile individuals who can’t exit (AFP / Thierry ZOCCOLAN)
“Helping the most isolated by playing sports”: in Clermont-Ferrand, cyclists voluntarily ship susceptible folks. A residents’ initiative born like 1000’s of others throughout confinement, which goals to be sustainable.
Behind his masks, we are able to see a broad smile. Despite her fragile well being, Christiane Segaud, jovial retiree, shines by opening her door to the two cyclists who’ve come to get her procuring listing.
Florent Pianezzola and Dorian Mieusset, 24 and 26, patiently pay attention to the newest suggestions from the septuagenarian earlier than getting on their bikes, heading to the nearest grocery store the place the Segaud couple have their habits.
Christiane Segaud and her husband undergo from severe pathologies that weaken their immune system, even stopping them from being vaccinated in opposition to Covid-19.
“Our doctors forbid us to go out … For us, it is confinement even when it is not officially there”, blows Jean-Claude, 78 years previous.
“It’s difficult … But we came across this association which is sublime (…) To our great happiness, they are there when we need to go shopping, it’s great”, enthuses – he does.
On their return, the two volunteer supply males unload their packed backpacks, then settle for the espresso and sweets supplied by the couple delighted to give you the option to chat.
“It’s not fair + we give the groceries and we leave. + There is really an exchange behind, and we are always offered to drink, to eat”, the purpose being to “spend time with these people” , testifies Dorian Mieusset.
Nicolas Crosnier voluntarily delivers procuring on January 14, 2021 in Clermont-Ferrand to fragile individuals who can’t exit (AFP / Thierry ZOCCOLAN)
The story started in the first days of confinement in March 2020. Touched by the state of affairs of susceptible folks disadvantaged of an exit, Margaux Louis, a 28-year-old rugby participant, decides to “combine the useful with the pleasant: playing cycling and at the same time helping them by doing their shopping “.
“I first delivered people I knew. There were two of us, then we launched a call on the networks and other sportsmen joined us”. But “we understood that we would not have support without setting up a structure”, says the younger lady: the affiliation of “super delivery men” was born on April 7.
-“Alter your train of thought”-
The initiative is gaining momentum, bringing collectively about fifteen after which thirty cyclists: “we sometimes received 30 calls a day, and made ten deliveries”, she remembers. Even the Auvergne athlete Rémi Cavagna is collaborating in the journey, doing races himself earlier than getting ready for the Tour de France.
Everything might have ended there. But after confinement, “people wanted us to continue, because we raised a social problem that exists outside of confinement: the isolation of vulnerable people,” explains the founding father of the affiliation.
“These are people who often do not have the means to go through a paying system and then there is always the extra thing: we will post a letter, buy drugs or something on the way, deliver a package to the sister, everything is possible “, particulars Nicolas Crosnier, trainer and” super delivery man “.
Nicolas Crosnier, a voluntary deliverer of errands to fragile folks, in the streets of Clermont-Ferrand on January 14, 2021 (AFP / Thierry ZOCCOLAN)
That day, he went to see Anita de Doncker, a 54-year-old girl who had been locked up in her house due to a mobility drawback. The well being crisis prevents him from becoming a member of his household in the North. “I don’t know anyone here. We talk about things and others, rain and shine, everything and nothing, we change our minds!” Says the frail fifty-something.
The affiliation is supported by the city corridor of Clermont-Ferrand and the Departmental Council of Puy-de-Dôme.
Does this success replicate the failure of communities? “On the contrary, it is a complementarity: we will support them to make their project a reality, help them to secure it because the social link is an essential element of autonomy”, explains Isabelle Terrasse, deputy director of Autonomy inside of the Departmental Council of Puy-de-Dôme.
Recruited by the Lille Métropole rugby membership villeneuvois (LMRCV), Margaux Louis continues to handle the affiliation remotely and at all times responds to calls from the hundred or so beneficiaries.
The future? She plans to create a partnership between a teenager and an remoted particular person, for the races, but in addition for visits, common cellphone calls, with “the idea of recreating the link between us on the territory”.
cca / ag / dch
