Par
Baptiste Hue
Published on
Nov 10, 2024 at 4:12 p.m.
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The 42e edition of Foulées de La Presse de la Manche takes place this Monday November 11, 2024 in Cherbourg.
Interview with Laurence Ballot, organizer of the event.
Did you expect to have so many registrants?
We were counting on 6,500 people like last year, at best 7,000… Finally, we will perhaps flirt with 8,000! I must admit that it is a surprise, a pleasant surprise, even if it causes logistical problems with the lack of chips.
How do you explain such participation this year?
It's difficult to say… Registrations on the internet perhaps make it easier. We opened registrations on October 23 and people mobilized from the start. We are also certainly benefiting from the craze for running, with more and more girls running. But many people who never run make the effort to register for Foulées pour le folklore!
echoes
Competition: For the third year, a costume competition will be set up via our website. The prize is three vouchers of 100, 50 and 30 euros for a meal in a Cherbourg restaurant.
Screening: Alongside the Foulées, blood sugar tests are offered free of charge to everyone by the City and the diabetics association from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Place Divette. The opportunity to provide information about diabetes, detect it and prevent its consequences on health.
Donations: The Foulées are free, but participants will have ballot boxes available to make a donation for the French association for the fight against cystic fibrosis, as well as “Rêves”.
Schoolchildren: Schoolchildren are not going to skip the Strides! This year we are witnessing a major mobilization of many educational establishments in Cotentin, such as the Saint-Paul school and college, in Cherbourg, which brought together more than 200 participants.
“It’s a day when everyone is in a good mood”
We feel support from the entire local population…
That's what's beautiful. Companies played the game by encouraging their employees to participate, associations rallied the troops, just like schools, municipalities… All this clearly shows the attachment of people to Les Foulées, and not only the Cherbourg residents, but all Cotentinois who like to meet up on November 11th. Over time, it became a family gathering. Many people here grew up with the Strides. In a way, it is an event that is part of the local heritage. And many out-of-towners who come to work in the area are happy to join in the fun.
Is this a difficult event to organize?
Organizing such an event requires a large investment, over several months. There is a very pleasant side, in the sense that we see people, we bring together volunteers… But there is also a stressful side of setting up an event that brings together more than 5,000 people. On D-Day, we are happy, in the evening, we are dead tired! But it's worth it, it's so wonderful to be able to get Cherbourg moving on November 11th! It's a day when everyone is in a good mood. This year again, we will experience great emotions and the departure of Pop will still give people just as much chills…
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