In Finistère, these medical students are at the bedside of hospitalized children

How did the Les Pilidous association come about?

Loane Lefevre: “It started a little before 2005. 2nd year health students offered gifts to children hospitalized at Morvan hospital, at Brest University Hospital, during the Christmas period. The association really saw the light of day in 2005, because they wanted to realize the actions they were carrying out. And these actions have become much broader. Now, Les Pilidous do events during all major periods of the year (Halloween, Christmas, Easter, etc.), but also throughout the seasons. »

Who are the members?

Clarisse Colin: “We are 27 members. This is a number that has not changed for several years. It could be midwifery students

in medicine, physiotherapy or dentistry. But this year, they are mainly medical students, and three dental students. And the association is really intended for 2nd year students, for a question of timetable. »

And you are now operating well beyond Brest…

CC: “Yes, today, the association is linked to all the structures in Finistère. Mainly in Quimper, Morlaix and Brest. But we also do the surrounding towns. Since the start of our mandate, in September, we have been able to work with Carhaix, Le Folgoët, Briec, Roscoff… It’s really quite vast. »

Only in hospitals?

CC: “No, it’s all the structures linked to childhood. We operate in the field of pediatrics. These are, for example, hospitals which welcome children for a day, the Bohars hospital for psychiatry, it could be oncology, IMEs like that of Briec…”

We like to say that we have to make children smile again, but that is too broad a description. Students travel to the structures in particular to spend time with the children.

How do you act?

CC: “We like to say that we have to make children smile again, but that’s too broad a description. Students travel to the structures in particular to spend time with the children. We can finance activities (magicians, equine therapy, art therapy, etc.), according to needs. We can also finance medical equipment; the association can raise funds. Recently, for example, we financed a scale for pediatric emergencies in Morlaix. For Christmas, establishments also make a list of gifts for each child. »

You have approximately €40,000 to carry out your actions. Where do your resources come from?

CC: “What brings us the most, to finance our actions, are the collections, in Quimper, Morlaix and Brest, twice a year. The second source is a partnership for several years with Dialogues, which lends us its premises to do gift wrapping for a month and a half. The last action is to go and sell cakes every Thursday in the lecture halls of the 1st year medical students. »

Practical

In Quimper, the next quest in the city center and in the Intermarché gallery will take place on Saturday December 7, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Volunteers will be dressed in red sweaters and white coats. On December 21, another quest will take place in Brest. Contacts: pilidous.wordpress.com