In Vannes, an association is trying to break the isolation of people with cancer

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To fight against solitudepatients and their families, benefit, within the association Faire Face Ensemble located in Vannes (Morbihan), workshops well-being, creative, physical activity organized by professionalsall volunteers.

The goal, break the isolation that cancer inflicts. Members of the association also go every day of the week to the outpatient chemotherapy centers from the Pays de Vannes. Doctors are also part of the teams volunteers of the association.

An association born from an observation

Face Together was born from a encounterthat of two women, Michèle Millet and Françoise Sellin, both affected by cancer.

One day, they report the same observation to their oncologist, that of the solitude inflicted by disease. To fight against isolation, together, they created the association, Faire Face Ensemble, on February 1, 1999.

Today, the association has 81 volunteersten well-being workshops, three physical activity workshops and a creativity workshop are offered to patients and their families.

Personalized help such as support psychologicalaid to administrative procedures or support from a doctor are also offered.

All activities are carried out by professionals. For example, for osteopathy, it is an osteopath who comes voluntarily to the association to do sessions, the same for sophrology, yoga and other workshops. We are a place of listening and conviviality.

A regular presence in Vannes chemotherapy services

Environ 40 volunteers who go every day, from Monday to Friday, to the outpatient chemotherapy departments at the Clinique Océane and the Vannes hospital. In November 2024, a team will also join the Pratel hospital in Auray.

We go to hospitals to bring a snack to patients undergoing treatment, tell them that we exist, but also listen to them if they feel the need. Sometimes we enter a room and the patient is stunned or angry, for example. We must find the right words without being thrown off track. This therefore requires comprehensive training that we systematically provide to volunteers before starting.

Indeed, the association is very careful about volunteers joining the teams. Several interviews have passed. An interview with the psychologist must be done before the person is trained for two days if the prior meetings with the team are conclusive.

La Vannetaise, a historical link

Évelyne Jugan, former president of the intergenerational race, la Vannetaise is a former volunteer of the association, Faire Face Ensemble.

It was in 2007 that she had an idea, to run a race for women for to raise awareness to female cancers. The meeting was made the same year, the association Faire Face Ensemble became involved in the project and organise alongside Evelyne Jugan and her friends, the race. It works since many women respond presentbut the scale is such that the association prefers to withdraw from the organization the following year. “It was more than we could do. We were not in a position to pursue the matter,” relates Marie-Pierre Guillemot.

This year, the race, the Water silencewill be held on October 11, 12 and 13, 2024.

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