2014 : Biking solidarity
ONE DAY, ONE STORY – Montbéliard – Saturday, these two students will bike their way to Paris for the Orphans of France..
They are ready to play the « mille bornes à incendie, » a sports and solidarity event.
1,099 kilometers. 14 days. Montbéliard to Paris and back.
- France | June 21 – July 4, 2014 | EuroVelo 6
- Beneficiary: Œuvre des Pupilles — Orphans and widows of French firefighters
Sports achievement, solidarity approach, and course element: the « mille bornes à incendie, » in which Julien and Nicolas are taking part, combines « three in one. » Both second-year students at the Belfort-Montbéliard Institute University of Technology, in the GACO Department (administrative and commercial management of organizations), have a good head on their shoulders and a steady pedal stroke.
1,099 km in 14 days
From the idea of raising funds for the works of the pupils and orphans of the French firefighters, to the love of the Tour de France, Julien gave his counterpart. Nicolas Nayener, a GACO student like him, the desire to take on the challenge: « With Nicolas, we will cycle from Montbéliard to Paris and back, totaling 1,099 kilometers along the Eurovélo 6, a rather touristic itinerary. » While the two of them pedal, Enes Soyturk, Steevie Ruggiero, and Karim Bounaouara will stay in Montbéliard to manage logistics and prepare for the return.
These Montbéliard students have created a great dynamic. For several months, they have been approaching local businesses to raise donations. « We have reached 1,100 euros so far, » explains Julien and Nicolas, bombarded with projects. « Our involvement is part of our IUT course, which includes accounting, marketing, management, and IT. For every 100 euros in donations, 75 are allocated to the orphans of firefighters and 25 to organizing our trip. »
With the help of Dominique Martin, social delegate of the Doubs firefighters, fourteen fire stations are mobilized for the entire route, providing lodging and meals. A major effort was made by the two students, who were not spared from the rain and clothing changes during their trip under the colors of their two partner companies.
1,107 orphans and widows of firefighters
Julien & Nico did not want to miss the goal of their mission: the collection remains open throughout their journey. The firefighters they meet, as well as practitioners, can participate. But they will not take the money to the headquarters of the works of the pupils and orphans in Paris. They will simply bring a global and symbolic check. The collection of the five « Gaco » students nevertheless remains anecdotal: 1,107 orphans and widows of firefighters in France.
Julien and Nicolas, the two cyclists of the « Mille bornes à incendie, » train every day to be able to achieve an average speed of 14 km/h. A real sporting and solidarity challenge with a departure scheduled for Saturday, June 21 at 8:30 am, from the college of L’Isle-sur-le-Doubs. It will not go unnoticed, because a large Doubs departmental gathering of firefighters is taking place. The return will also not be trivial; it will take place on July 4 and 18, at the Gaco department headquarters, on the Montbéliard campus of the IUT, at the gates of the Jura. No doubt, Enes, Steevie, and Karim will have done things right.
Other fact:
Bernard Franoz, the first vice-president of the works of pupils and orphans of firefighters, supports the approach of the two Montbéliard students: « We will always support all these children whose firefighter parent died in the line of duty or in other ways, by offering them moral and financial support, including quarterly allowances. And it is thanks to the generosity that we can provide. »