The heat rose this Tuesday noon June 14, at the Saint-Jean stadium in Montluçon (Allier), for the kick-off of the Ultra solidarity challenge (UDS). At the start of this race, wishing to highlight disabled sports, a hundred runnerson foot or with their bikes, danced to music to warm up.
For a few minutes, the runners at the start warmed up to music, in a good mood. Like Gaël Geffroy, in blue, in the center.
During this first dayparticipants have already traveled 45 kilometers, in the direction of Saint-Gervais d’Auvergne. Those who will continue with the second day were able to rest there before a second challenge, 55 kilometersto reach the Puy de Dôme.
Run with heart
–
Receive our personalized Terre de Sports newsletter by email and find news and results for your favorite sports every Monday.
–
NL {“path”:”mini-thematique-inscription”,”thematique”:”MT_Sports_Multisports”,”accessCode”:”14144558″,”allowGCS”:”true”,”bodyClass”:”ripo_generic”,”contextLevel”: “KEEP_ALL”,”filterMotsCles”:”1|11|95|1579|1903″,”gabarit”:”generic”,”hasEssentiel”:”true”,”idArticle”:”4144558″,”idArticlesList”:”4144558 “,”idDepartment”:”221″,”idZone”:”6119″,”motsCles”:”1|11|95|1579|1903″,”premium”:”true”,”pubs”:”banniere_haute|article “,”site”:”MT”,”sousDomaine”:”www”,”urlTitle”:”l-ultra-defi-solidaire-left-from-montlucon-allier-to-climb-to-the-summit-of -Puy de Dome”}
–
“Everyone can take part in as many stages as they wish. This is modularto be within everyone’s reach,” explains Fabien Mys, designated “project manager” by the team of organizers. Gael Geffroy chose to participate only in the first stage: 16 kilometers to Villebret.
The young paralympic athletewith autism, did not hesitate to embark on the solidarity race. “He wanted to race with the bikes! He had to be chomping at the bit,” laughed Denis Geffroy, his father. Reassured to see his son “framed and secure”, the dad watched the starting line with a touch of pride: “Two years ago, I’m not sure he could have participated. With all these people… He really takes it upon himself and the passion prevails! »
Residents of the Ehpad Les Cèdres, in Vallon-en-Sully, gave voice to encourage the runners at the start. © Delphine Simonneau
It is also with the inflamed heart that 23 residents of the Les Cèdres nursing home, from Vallon-en-Sully, had come to encourage the twenty members of staff who were taking up the challenge. “Twelve of them will follow us to the Puy de Dôme, and go up with the little train. It’s an adventure for them too,” rejoices Évelyne Dupuis, director of the establishment. The opportunity for some to “see the country one last time. »
premium What is this solidarity challenge launched by an amateur triathlete from Puy-de-Dôme?
An event made possible, despite two cancellations due to Covid, thanks to the involvement of a fifty volunteers “Without them, we would never have been able to put all this in place and raise funds for our project,” insisted Fabien Mys. The 250 participants, having paid 10 euros for registration, have also inflated the kitty.
–
About fifty committed volunteers helped to organize the logistics of this race.
The project of a City stade promoting disabled sports, on the IME website Rocher-fleuri, required a budget of 42.000 euros. It will be in place by end of the month “so that the participants who enabled its creation can see it very quickly. »
Delphine Simoneau
–
