The challenge “Let’s unite our steps”, created in support of the Alk + France lung cancer association, returns from June 9 to 21 for its second edition. Team registrations are open until June 8 at 12 p.m.
“We would like to break the record of 123 teams that we had last year!”, Says Sophie Médiamole, health and sports project manager at the Gers Departmental Olympic and Sports Committee (CDOS). For the moment, 71 teams are registered with 284 participants. This challenge takes place via the Kiplin smartphone application between June 9 and 21. “We understand that this can be a hindrance for some people. So, we invite those who wish to participate to contact us or to come and see us at the CDOS headquarters”, explains Sophie Médiamole.
Another barrier that can be lifted is the number of participants per team. “A team must be made up of four people, but if someone shows up with an incomplete team, we can find participants to integrate”, reassures the co-organizer who adds that for this 2023 edition, the CDOS has opened disabled sports teams to include as many people as possible. “We have all types of people who participate, athletes, non-athletes and teenagers as well as seniors,” says Sophie Médiamole.
This year, a godfather and a godmother come to support the challenge: Clémentine Célarié, actress who played in particular in the mini-series broadcast on TF1 “Les randonneuses” and Mathieu Bosredon, multi-medal Paralympic athlete.
Kenty, patient and Clémentaine Célarié, sponsor of this edition.
Raising funds for cancer research
The objective of this sports and solidarity challenge is simple: to collect donations for the benefit of the association of Alk + France Cancer Lung patients, affected by rare lung cancer with ALK and ROS1 mutation. With its 215 members, the association hopes to continue in this momentum and receive new members for three years to obtain the status of association of public utility. “This will allow us to have access to more help”, explains Isabelle Gabriel, Gersoise diagnosed with this rare cancer and who will participate in the challenge.
Last year, 4000 euros had been collected and the association had added 1000 euros to be able to finance research at the Oncopole of Toulouse around a new molecule which could be effective for other cancers. “It is an additional hope, the trials are in phase 1 and 2 so now we are waiting for the last phase and then the agreement of the HAS for its marketing and especially its reimbursement because all these treatments are very expensive”, indicates Isabelle Gabriel.