Rallying against cystic fibrosis

Neither compass queens nor off-roading fans, Aurélie and Virginie wanted to do something crazy for their 40th birthdays. They are living it right now. Their friendship is the same age as their vehicle: 22. “We built our lives as women together. I wouldn’t have done it with anyone else.”

Equipped with a dash of folly and a somewhat carefree nature, they threw themselves body and soul into preparing for their first Rallye three years ago. “On my way to Nini’s 40th birthday party on March 27, I heard a radio program on the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc. I talked to her about it right away, and she immediately answered: “of course, we’ll do it for Ninon [her 5-year-old niece with cystic fibrosis].”

A few months later, Ninon’s parents were asked to allow her to attend an audition. She was chosen to be a spokesperson for “Vaincre la mucoviscidose” cystic fibrosis association. “We’ve been working with the association for 6 months. We set up an online donation campaign. Each kilometre we drive is worth 10 euros. Since we will drive about 1,300 kilometres, our goal is to raise 13,000 euros.” This amount corresponds to one year of medical care, or 450 euros per week. Back home, in Roanne, they have also set up fifty-odd donation boxes. Finally, they will donate their damage deposit cheque to the association. “To do that, we have to make sure we don’t break the vehicle!”

The two Gazelles also wanted to publicize their action. France 3 Rhône Alpes filmed a report with Ninon. They did interviews with Chérie radio and the regional newspaper to try and collect as many donations as possible. “We were really well received and supported and when we shovel we think of Ninon.”

The two women have already experienced a lot of emotion since the start of this edition. “Our oil tank broke the day before the Prologue, we had to find a garage to find a cap. We had to be at the bivouac at noon, and arrived right at 11:55…” They have had a few mechanical issues since: “We’ve been driving without brakes since yesterday, and we just changed a tire. But apart from that we’re laughing a lot. It doesn’t take much to make us cry; we can easily see everything that is going on in each other’s eyes.”

Aurélie hates sharing her personal space and had never gone camping in her life. To top it all off, they are both a little claustrophobic. “It’s crazy how quickly we adapt.” Aurélie admits that she sleeps like a log: “In fact, we’re dead to the world every morning when Dominique Serra comes to wake us up at 4 o’clock. It’s an amazing adventure, but it’s tough. They told us it would be, but you don’t realize it until you get here.”

Pour Virginie, “the map is a whole new world”. As for Aurélie, she is still adjusting her headings. It’s frustrating for both of us. Today I kept a checkpoint in sight, I was as happy as a 12-year-old girl. There’s no secret, you have to trust yourself and each other. For the moment, I’m learning through my suffering. It’s like maths and physics at school, but at least I’m learning things. Just for that, it’s really rewarding.”