This Tuesday, June 25, on the quay of Port Charles Ornano in Ajaccio, the atmosphere is festive. After a nine-day cruise through Southern Corsica, 25 children and adolescents aged 9 to 16 in remission from cancer made a final stopover in the imperial city. Skippers, nurses, medical interns and students from the HEC school were present on board the six sailboats to supervise this “Childhood Dream” cruise. This association was created in 2001 by HEC Paris students. It is supported by the League against cancer of Corsica-du-Sud, which exempts the six catamarans rented in Sardinia from port duties and which takes care of all the activities during the stay.
On their arrival at the dock, the young sailors were able to enjoy a snack organized by the town hall and the port restaurateurs in front of the harbor master’s office. They were notably welcomed by Sauveur Merlenghi, president of the Corsica-du-Sud committee for the fight against cancer: “ This event contributes to post-cancer. This makes them forget the horrors of the illness, the suffering they have suffered. Our goal is to bring them a little happiness and show them the solidarity that exists between adults and children, and more generally between human beings. No one can tolerate the suffering of a child,” he emphasizes.
Kevan Jaber, president of the “Childhood Dream” association, adds: “ These children experienced monotonous moments in their hospital rooms. This cruise allows them to meet other children who have experienced the same thing as them. Today, they are here to enjoy life to the fullest. Their positive attitude inspires us. We try to solidify this resilience that they carry within them. Some children confide about illness during the crossing, but never in a fatalistic tone, because they have overcome it, and certainly several times. We spend time together, we laugh, we swim, we catch up on lost time. »
The glass is half full
The presence of medical personnel on board is essential to ensure the safety of children, some of whose health remains fragile. Juliette Wattiez, a childcare nurse in the Paris region, did not hesitate for a single moment to board the Rêve d’enfance cruise: “We had to intervene only once in nine days to do a blood test fairly quickly in Bonifacio. For children, this cruise is a dream come true. It was nice to see the stars shine in their eyes when we arrived in a port. » she smiled.
If the weather conditions were harsher than last year, Gwenolé Verry, Ajaccian skipper, only remembers the positives: “We constantly adapted to the bad weather, but the children are radiant, and that’s the main thing. They progressed throughout the crossing and their fears gradually disappeared. » Adrien, 14, is from Grenoble. He is still moved by this stay at sea: “It was exceptional. It was my first time in Corsica. It feels good, it makes up for what we’ve endured. » Manon, 16, comes from the Paris region. She wants to celebrate life after facing illness: “It’s a victory, you have to make the most of every moment. You must always keep smiling and see the glass half full. I made a lot of friends, but we all already had a connection without speaking to each other, because we experienced something difficult. » The children, adolescents and all the teams accompanying them will leave by plane this Thursday, June 27. But first, this time they will explore the mainland through a final island visit to Cuppulata, the city of turtles, about ten minutes from Ajaccio. The opportunity to share another moment of exchange, conviviality and happiness.
