“The Rallye is like chocolate: it’s addictive”
Team 27
Prune, aged 64, and Elisa, aged 41, are doing the 28th edition together for the first time, in Quad/Buggy Class. This is Elisa’s third Rallye, and Prune can’t even remember exactly how many times she has done it: “about twenty-odd times”. Naturally enough, they met at the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles.
Joy, perseverance, doubts, pushing their limits, excitement, teamwork, friendship, solidarity: Team 27 (Prune SALTI / Elisa BOULAND - ESAF) are hoping to experience all of these emotions and more during these10 days together in the arid landscapes of southern Morocco. The pair weren’t even supposed to come back this year. “I had said I wouldn’t do it this year, but then Prune contacted me, she had a sponsorship opportunity, and I couldn’t say no. It’s addictive, otherwise we wouldn’t keep coming back,” explains Elisa. For Prune, “it’s like chocolate: I’m hooked. And by the way, I’ve also brought a supply of chocolate with me.”
This year, the two women decided to raise money for a Moroccan orphanage of eight children that receives very little aid, which they learned about through another Gazelle. And as usual, Prune is supporting animal welfare organizations.
Are they ready? “We’re having some trouble getting back into the swing of things, but we’re starting to have butterflies; the stress is rising. The 8 other teams in our class look pretty intense. A lot of them are new so it should be pretty competitive but at the same time, we’re here to play the game.” Any final words for everyone reading this article? “We’d rather be in our place rather than in theirs!”
