Cœur de Gazelles ready to go

This Saturday March 17, 2018 marks the send-off of the 28th edition of the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc. Of the 165 teams competing in this year’s event, 143 are starting from the promenade in Nice at 3:00 this afternoon

The participants arrived early this morning to hand in their donations. Most of them wanted to support Cœur de Gazelles. A solidarity chain formed facing the sea at 10 o’clock. “This is great show of solidarity and generosity on the part of the Gazelles as well as some of our partners, such as CBA Informatique and Maghreb Solutions, who have also brought donations.”

2017 and 2018 Gazelles working together

Shoes, clothing, toys, stuffed toys, books… Thirty-odd volunteers set to work to sort and label the donations. And not just any volunteers: 2017 Gazelles, with their saffron-yellow vests, have come to give a hand. Marie and Jennifer (former Team 131 (Sandrine LANG / Susanne RIEL - EST ENTRETIEN ETANCHEITE)) have come down from Clermont-Ferrand and Paris, respectively. “It’s exciting to be here, I have no words to describe it!” exclaims Marie.

Sandrine, formerly of Team 222 (Sophie RICHARD / Sarah ES SEDDIQI - Centre Cardiothoracique de Monaco), is moved to be back at the Start Village: “I had a couple of tears in my eyes. Since I can’t do it this year, I’ve come to make myself useful; it’s a good chance to meet the new Gazelles. The ambiance is just as amazing as ever; it’s really motivating me to do the Rallye again next year.” The Gazelles are getting to know each other and learning more about the Rallye’s non-profit: “I fell in love with Cœur de Gazelles, and this donation drive is a way to see them in action and to be a part of it! I hope we will be able to visit the caravan in the desert and meet the people receiving these donations,” explains Rose of Team 152 (Audrey VIGUIER / Maryse DELPAS - CLOMEN Réseau UNIVERTURE).

Donations handed out during the Rallye

The Rallye partner Maghreb Solutions truck was loaded with close to 200 m3 of donations. It will set out for Morocco this afternoon, just ahead of the Gazelles, reaching the bivouac in the heart of the Moroccan desert on Tuesday. Another Maghreb Solutions truck is already en route, loaded with large items (wheelchairs, walkers etc) that the Gazelles previously dropped off at collection points. All these donations will be distributed in the Moroccan villages visited by the Cœur de Gazelles caravan during the Rallye.