The stars shine in the dark at La Grande-Motte

Charity gala: valuable support for visually impaired people

This Wednesday evening, the Pasino de la Grande-Motte hosted the charity gala “Stars in the Dark 2024”, a major event organized for the benefit of France Challenge Vision. Intended to support visually impaired people, this gala brought together 350 participants, including many economic players from the Occitanie region and an exceptional panel of high-level athletes.

Sponsor of the evening, Patrice Canayer, former coach of Montpellier Handball and regional advisor, highlighted the importance of inclusion through sport. He welcomed the presence of champions who shone at the Paralympic and Olympic Games in Paris, underlining the commitment of athletes to this noble cause.

Frédéric Villeroux, leader of the French blind football team who won gold at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, also left a message for the guests. He insisted on the need for collaboration between the individual and society for the inclusion of people with disabilities: “We must all realize that supporting people with visual disabilities in society in general is something that must be sensible. Society must adapt to us, but we must also adapt to society. »

An exceptional culinary and immersive experience

The dinner served in the dark, designed by renowned chefs such as Jacques Mazerand and Gérard Cabiron, offered guests a unique and memorable experience. The Grande-Motte Big Band, under the direction of Thierry Amiot, punctuated the evening, adding a musical touch to this event.

Jérôme Boscus, Deputy President of France Défi Vision, expressed his satisfaction with the enthusiastic feedback from the participants. He stressed that this enthusiasm strengthens the links between the association and the economic world, essential to continue their mission of supporting people with disabilities.

Funds for an ambitious project

Thanks to the 35,000 euros collected during the evening, France Défi Vision plans to create a guide and assistance dog school in the former Languedoc-Roussillon, where such a structure is sorely lacking. Currently, the closest is in Toulouse. These dogs, whose training costs around 30,000 euros and requires four years, will be offered to individuals with visual, hearing, motor or autistic disabilities, as well as to institutions such as EHPADs and IMEs.

While the waiting lists to obtain these dogs are long, the association is committed to intensifying its awareness and fundraising activities in order to be able to train up to four dogs. This ambitious project is a beacon of hope for many people looking for autonomy and support in their daily lives.

The France Défi Vision association

France Défi Vision is a non-profit association recognized as being of general interest, which is administered mainly by visually impaired people and which works for all visually impaired people.

These actions involve:

Representation on committees, particularly on accessibility
Raising awareness among the general public, in particular through training with teachers such as the Sainte-Odile school in Montpellier, or staff in EHPADs
The establishment of partnerships with sports clubs, to allow access to visually impaired people, as was done with Montpellier Handball for goalball and should be done with Montpellier Hérault Sport Club football for blind football.
The establishment of partnerships with cultural actors to allow access to the world of culture and make its offer accessible, such as with the Montpellier publisher of audio books for children Benjamins Média or with the Occitanie Region
Support for research in the medical field

To contact the association, go to social networks: