A SPORTING CHALLENGE IN AID OF RESEARCH AND IN THE NAME OF A HANDICAP
The HANDIKAPP-NORD PROJECT is a trek on handbike* covering over 4,600 kilometres in 90 days, intended to collect funds in aid of the ICM (Brain and Spinal Cord Institute). This ambitious project had already been rewarded on June 24th by the "COUP DE COEUR PARIS JEUNES AVENTURES" Prize. A challenge to be taken on by Yves, a young paraplegic aged 27.
August 18th, 2008: Yves’ convalescence!
After his transfer to Helsinki in the middle of the night, Yves joined his friends to spend his convalescence in the capital. As our adventurer said himself it is hard for him to feel so much “assisted”. Unable to ride his bike for now because of his stabbing pain in the left hand, he went to the campsite of Oitta in a taxi although his friends went there by bike. After this “sightseeing” trip altogether his friends had to leave. Yves is now all alone again but thanks to the support of his friends after the accident he feels ready to continue his trip. Unfortunately Yves is not ready physically to get back on his bike: he is thus waiting until Friday to see if his health will allow him to continue on the road of the great adventure, his adventure…
The chance to prove that one can suffer from a physical handicap and yet carry off a physical and mental challenge while contributing towards advances made by research.
Why the North Cape ? The North Cape is a favorite destination for many adventurers though the trek has never been made before on a handbike. Our Scandinavian neighbors are, in fact, well-known for being more advanced than France with regard to accessibility of public places and the integration of handicapped people. This is another aim of this rather crazy trip : to shine the projector on the subject of accessibility, which is never discussed enough.
«To overcome one’s handicap by challenging one’s mobility» - Yves «A man deprived of the use of his legs is also capable of important achievements» - Yves
Yves NERON-BANCEL’s preparation at the Thermes Marins de Monte-Carlo and the IM2S for his Handikapp-Nord challenge :
The ICM - Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Epinière based at La Pitié Salpétrière, “The Mecca of Neurology” is :
- An institute pursuing spearhead research on brain and spinal cord diseases
- 600 of the best researchers and technicians from all over the world, 22,000 m2 of laboratories
- Charismatic founders such as Professeur Saillant, Jean Todt (boss of the Ferrari stable), Lindsay Owen Jones (boss of L’Oréal)…
- Top-notch partners : Publicis, Siemens Medical…
Once on his way, Yves will keep a diary which can be consulted from the blog : www.handikapp-nord.org created with the aim of following the progress made on the trip on a weekly basis through his writings, photos and videos. It will also cover all the preparatory stages of the trip with reports, videos and in-depth articles.
THE ROUTE
