this Haute-Garonne association is equipped with a second scooter

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It has now been almost two and a half years since the “Passejada” three-wheeler, acquired in 2022 by the local branch of the À Vélo Sans Age (AVSA) association, has been traveling the roads of Revel, carrying beneficiaries of all ages on board. – seniors, mainly, but also so-called dependent people, isolated or with reduced mobility – fans of these walks offered in the city of art furniture. And according to AVSA news, these are not about to stop.

“We are expandingwelcome the two managers of the Revel branch, Isabelle Catel et Daniel Hebert. Since we took over responsibility for the antenna in 2023, we have been working to find funding and recruit new pilots. » Objective: meet growing demand. And the best way to satisfy the needs and desires of beneficiaries – old, new and future – necessarily involves the development of the association. And the acquisition of a second scooter.

Victim of his success

When we met them, in spring 2023, they were around fifteen regularly take advantage of these outings offered by À Vélo Sans Age. A number that has continued to grow and has even tripledSince. Today, there are around fifty, mainly tenants of the Jean-Ricalens and Cœur de bastide residences, as well as residents of the Establishments for dependent elderly people (Ehpad) of l'Étoile and Jean-Joseph-Roquefort. “We are starting to have many residences to honor et more and more requests from individuals »notes the co-responsible for the Revel branch.

The number of walks has, in fact, also increased significantly since the launch of the system. Finished the two weekly meetings, Passejada now goes out almost every afternoon (provided, of course, that the weather is favorable) lasting around an hour (compared to only 30 minutes at the start). So obviously, having only one scooter – these three-wheeled bikes equipped with a two-seater seat at the front – quickly proved insufficient.

Expensive equipment

Issue ? This type of equipment has a cost: 13 000 €. Not counting additional costs. Fortunately, Isabelle Catel and Daniel Hebert were able to find the necessary resources to finance this purchase, essential to the development of the association. The Crédit Agricole Corporate Foundation (€5,000), the Rotary Club of Revel (€3,500), Harmonie Mutuelle (€2,000), but also a “generous donor”, ​​who was among the first beneficiaries of AVSA , (€2,000) allowed the association to acquire this second scooter.

Companhon – that’s his name – made his first outing alongside his alter ego Passejada on Saturday November 16, 2024. And since then, has continued to lead the beneficiaries through the streets of the bastide. Both are also managed by ever-increasing numbers of volunteers. “Today we have 25, but we need to train even more,” says Daniel Hebert.

An activity to be developed even further

Because the local branch of the À Vélo Sans Age association hopes to take advantage of this growing success to broaden its scope of action. “We are now considering organizing, in addition, regular walks with Téoule (shared housing located in the hamlet of Vaure, Editor’s note) and the USLD, the hospital's long-term care unit », informs Isabelle Catel. Before adding: “What is also necessary is that we establish a schedule of outingsso that our volunteers know exactly where to go and which establishments have slots dedicated to them. »

In the meantime, the two three-wheelers will again this year provide the traditional “Advent walks”. Night outings allowing beneficiaries – and volunteers – to discover the Christmas lights installed in town. “Both bikes will be mobilized. It's great, because it forms a sort of convoy, created interaction and a real dynamic”enthuses the co-responsible. The more traditional and thematic outings (on history, trees or water) should be offered again in the spring or even a little before.

Practical information
By bike without age Revel
Information on the website https://avelosansage.fr/ou/occitanie/revel/
Contact: Isabelle Catel at [email protected] or at 07 68 44 52 88 and Daniel Hebert at [email protected] or on 06 80 41 51 58

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