Camille and Amelieboth from Amiens, will live an extraordinary adventure under the sign of self-transcendence and solidarity by participating, for the association MealEspoirs, in the Raid Amazones. The event will take place in Sri Lanka next March.
Camille, can you introduce yourself?
My name is Camille Pataille, I am 37 years old, I am a mother of two children and I am a sales manager. My teammate and friend above all is called Amelie Dignon, she is 34 years old and she is also the mother of two children. In life, she is a recognized professional in real estate.
What is the Amazon Raid?
This edition of the Raid Amazones will take place in mars 2023with charitable actions at Sri Lankathe host country. There will be several 100% female solidarity races, each performed on different tests. Initially, the event was designed to make women understand that they could surpass themselves and also achieve sporting results.. And also to help an association. We chose the association MealEspoirs. Every afternoon, after the sporting events, the 300 Amazons will take part in solidarity actions with local populations. We have been training for six months. We gain visibility through social networks where we find sponsors ready to support us in our project. Sponsors are used to recover money.
This challenge is one more step in our relationship
Why did you want to participate?
Amélie had already heard of this project. One night, she offered me this and I accepted directly. We are athletic, but at the base, we are riders. We met eighteen years ago, at the equestrian center of Boves. We shared a lot together, both friendship, our studies and the major stages of life since we became mothers. This challenge is one more step in our relationship, because these are significant trials…
Can you tell us about the association?
The association is called MealEspoirs. One of my collaborators at work works part-time in this association. Its creators come from Metz. I was able to discover it thanks to him. The association undertakes to provide food, humanitarian and health aid to children in the poorest countries. The goal is to be able to bring at least 500 meals to the children. For now, only 350 meals are distributed per day, but the association should soon reach 500. MealEspoirs has been working in Madagascar since last March.
There are different steps to take to select the poorest families. At the same time, they also try to provide health care to the children. They make sure they can wash and brush their teeth. What made us choose this association is that the money paid is concrete and immediate, we don’t go through an intermediary.
At the Raid Amazones, what events will you perform?
There are several trials: the first is a trail of 23 km, the second is 50 km of VTT. On the 3rd day, we must do 18 km of canoe. The 4th test is archery. Then we have to do a run and bike of 22 km and to finish, on the last day, we will have to participate in a course d’orientation. In the morning, there are sporting events and in the afternoon, it is the discovery of the country and humanitarian actions carried out on site. We will leave for 10 days, 8 days on site and there are 2 days of transport. To practice, we asked several Amiens associations.
I think when we come back, we’ll either be friends forever or we’ll hate each other forever!
Camille Pataille
Precisely, which Amiens associations are following you in your challenge?
We went to see several associations and all of them were very warm and helped us on a voluntary basis. We also found a trainer, Patrick Delrue, at Camon fitness. He concocted a training schedule for us, so that we are at ease sportingly and that we prepare for absorb the shocks ! We were also able to practice archery in Amiens, where the club received us very kindly and provided us with equipment and lessons. For kayaking, we went to the Picquigny club. They felt super involved too, I think that’s great! This challenge allows us to meet people we would never have met otherwise… We will be leaving in March, so we have another four good months of training. Besides that, we take part in a lot of local races, like 10 km from Rivery for example, la Samaram’ or even a race against breast cancer, as part of Pink October. We try to take an interest in as many sporting events as possible, at our level, to be able to follow our progress..
How do you approach the challenge?
We can’t wait to go! Then we each have apprehensions in certain tests and facilities in others. For example, for Amélie, the trail is a rather simple event, whereas for me it is not. For my part, mountain biking over 50 km seems accessible to me, while my teammate finds it more difficult. We are therefore super complementary and we can help each other. Afterwards, I don’t worry because we have a fighter’s mind ! I think when we come back, we’ll either be friends forever or we’ll hate each other forever!
Regarding the medical follow-up, how are you going to do it?
So we have a little particularity… For me, in any case, this challenge is a double challenge. I had a serious riding accident, so basically I should have limped for life. Finally, with the will, I manage to do everything. So, yes, sometimes I have pain, but with the mind, we ignore certain pains. And I’m suffering from diabetes, so that is yet another challenge… The CHU supports me in the management of the equipment, the dosage to anticipate the event. After, I have an insulin pump, so it does not handicap me at all in my life.
How did you finance your project?
Our registration fee is 8000€ and the total with the trip amounts to 12,000€. Thanks to our sponsors, we are increasingly able to get closer to the final sum. What makes us happy to see all the people who follow us, who believe in our project.
Julie Michele
Photo credit: DR
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