1 Tour of Europe to save 2 lives

1 Tour of Europe to save 2 lives

The project

On January 3, I'll be cycling around Europe to raise funds for Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque.

This association enables children with heart defects to benefit from operations that cannot be carried out in their own countries. The sum of 12,000 euros is needed to fully fund a child's operation. During my Tour of Europe, I'll have the opportunity to cover some 24,000 km. My aim is therefore to raise 24,000 euros to save the lives of two children, giving them the chance to grow up and realize their own dreams.

The route :

To give a common thread to my Tour of Europe, I've decided to link almost all European capitals. Departure is scheduled for January 3 from Lille, heading south to avoid the low winter temperatures. After that, I'll be heading for the Balkans. Around May/June, I'll be heading back north via the Baltic States. I plan to end my journey in the United Kingdom, to discover the Scottish and Irish landscapes.

The route will change over the course of the trip, depending on the people I meet, but the overall journey should cover around 24,000 km and cross over 30 different countries! I plan to spend around 8 months on this trip, which means an average of 100 km a day.

Why this project?

• Going far with your legs: I've always dreamed of going on a long bike trip. For me, it's the best way to travel, and to know that you can cover an entire continent with just your legs is an incredible feeling.
• Giving meaning: Doing this trip to raise funds for an association was an obvious choice. I was lucky enough to be born in good health in a country where access to healthcare is very easy. So to be able, in my small way, to enable children to benefit from the vital operations they need through a fund-raising campaign is just exceptional. I was able to attend a child's post-operative consultation. His smile will stay with me for the rest of the trip.
• Low-carbon travel: I chose Europe because it allows me to leave home without taking a plane. Through this project, I want to show that it's possible to travel far and wide without necessarily taking a plane.
• Cultural openness: Europe is a very rich continent culturally, and I'm curious to discover the cultures of different countries.

Support from JUNIA Alumni

I'm lucky enough to have the support of JUNIA Alumni, who will be with me every step of the way. During my journey, I'll be meeting JUNIA engineers all over Europe! These meetings will be an opportunity to exchange experiences and share advice.

Project follow-up

I've always loved sharing my travels and projects. My Tour of Europe will be no exception 🙂. Every day, I'll be publishing my progress, landscapes and encounters on a dedicated Instagram account: baba_a_velo.

On the one hand, it allows those who follow me to travel with me, and on the other, it makes me feel less alone during these 8 months 😅. During my last project (a 2500 km race across France), I received incredible support that enabled me to complete my project successfully.

Last but not least, it will be a way of sharing the progress of the association's kitty and telling you about the children we've managed to save!