Support most vulnerable & fight against isolation

For more than 15 years now, Secours Catholique-Caritas France has provided ski chairs for disabled guests. Guided by volunteers, these disabled people can enjoy winter sports and, thanks to these trips, learn and share the joys of skiing with able-bodied people and live a few moments of escape.

The action of Secours Catholique finds its full meaning in the accompaniment of the handicapped people in order to help them to break the solitude and the isolation that can provoke the handicap.

This project started in 2000 at Secours Catholique in the Alpes. A team volunteer, mother of a handicapped girl, learned that a wheelchair adapted for people with reduced mobility existed. The project was added to the campaign "10 Million Stars" which finances local actions of Secours Catholique. This is how the delegation managed to acquire its first ski chair. As of the following year, some 20 chairs were acquired, financed by public and private organizations.

Operation "Fauteuils Ski" (ski chairs) has developed in twenty stations of the Hautes Alpes and Alpes de Haute Provence. Each season, 300 people with reduced mobility can carry 1,800 hours of skiing. This activity also mobilizes volunteers, as 130 skiers have been trained in ski chairs and 45 are now active.

Thanks to our supports, the team was able to acquire:

- 5 ski chairs "TESSIER TEMPO Grand confort" with 10 pairs of skis (5 pairs of skis for ski chairs and 5 pairs for drivers)
- 5 extra low temperature sleeping bags.

Volunteer instructors were also trained to pilot the ski chairs and some of the existing chairs could be repaired.

Last December 17, on the terrace of the tourist office, facing the Orcières Merlette snowfront, the entire team of ski chairs had decided to inaugurate the eight new ski chairs in the presence of its partners.

Then, all went to try these new ski chairs on the heights of the station to have a quality snow.

Testimony of Sandrine (Chloe's mom)

I come by this mail to thank you for the ride in Dualski with Pierre-Paul B. It was an experience for Chloé full of emotions and good feelings! We skied all together, which delighted our young child !! Pierre-Paul, with exemplary patience, has shown a dynamism and sympathy out of the common. He even sent Chloe a text message for her happy birthday a few days later! I wish you all the best and thank you again for this unique moment.

• Financial report (XLSX)
• Rapport en francais (PDF)