Jérôme suffers from ankylosing spondylitis, a debilitating disease. After crossing France on foot, he set himself a new challenge: to cycle 600 km in 40 hours around Cantal. A sporting challenge to raise awareness of the disease and raise funds for research.
Company
From daily life to major issues, discover the subjects that make up local society, such as justice, education, health and family.
France Télévisions uses your email address to send you the “Society” newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link at the bottom of this newsletter. Our privacy policy
After covering 3,000 km on foot between the Alps and the Pyrenees, Jérôme Bonnet, 53, resident of Saint-Flour (Cantal) and suffering from ankylosing spondylitis, is preparing to take on a new challenge. “I’m going to give up running and start cycling, he explains. My goal is to cover 600 km in one go, in 40 hours, around Cantal.
A 600 km challenge
This challenge, which represents 10,000 meters of elevation gain, aims to symbolize his fight against this debilitating genetic disease. To do this, Jérôme wants to follow the limits of Cantal as closely as possible, over nearly 600 km. “The objective is to raise funds for my association, Spondi’venture, which supports research against diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis”specifies Jérôme. “This disease blocks the joints, especially the spine. I have it myself, and I want to show that sport is beneficial for people suffering from spondyloarthritis. The less we move, the greater the risk of complications.”
-duration of video: 00h02mn04s
Suffering from a debilitating illness, Jérôme takes on the challenge of cycling 600 km around Cantal
•
©L. Theodore / B. Livertoux / K. Janicki
Fight against illness through sport
For the first timehis partner will provide assistance. She admires his determination: “He trains constantly. Sometimes he is lucky enough not to suffer, so he takes advantage of it. He is living his dream “.
Jérôme specifies: “I have nothing to prove. There are people much stronger than me to cover long distances. I just want to prove that nothing is ruined, as long as you practice physical activity.”
Before embarking on this adventure, Jérôme has another challenge to take on: finding partners to support the research. Next June, he plans to complete this new ordeal through the roads of Cantal, with the aim of giving hope to the sick.
Related News :