The volunteer from the Villefranche athletics club has just been awarded the Youth, Sports and Community Engagement medal by the Aveyron Olympic Steering Committee.
A humble, discreet and generous man on the ground
This Friday, November 22, as World Volunteer Day approaches on December 5, Eric Mas, volunteer coach of the ACVR club, was awarded the precious Youth, Sports and Community Involvement medal. for the Educator category, to the delight of the Villefranche athletics club. This annual ceremony, celebrated with great pomp, rewarding athletes, leaders of various associations, and volunteers from different fields, with the presence, among others, of Mr. sub-prefect Christophe Burbaud, and of the deputy Mr. Alexandre, took place in the magnificently renovated Salle des Arcades in Aubin.
The record of Eric Mas's commitment can only impress: parent of an athlete in 2004, he very quickly began to help the coach supervise the children. Athletics became his passion, as much as relationships with children, and finally passed his coaching diploma in 2009. A hands-on man who takes pride in each of his athletes whatever their abilities, he thus greatly improves confidence in them necessary for their personal development. For some, he “transformed” them, “saved” them, according to their parents. His expertise in athletics and his relationship with young people have also made it possible to be an essential springboard for athletes at the national level such as the Dumas brothers, Etienne Lopez, Anaèl Loubatières, and others, who say they are eternally grateful to him. No less than two decades of volunteer commitment to the ACVR were celebrated during this evening. In turn, athlete (cross), referee, organizer of sporting events, club representative at meetings of the Departmental Athletics Committee, (then secretary), president of the ACVR club in 2015 and deputy president for 2 years . But that's not all, since in 2013 he had already been a bronze medalist, then silver in 2017 by the FF Athlétisme Midi-Pyrénées league. Today he trains young people at the rate of 3 training sessions per week, in all weathers and travels to all competitions (around thirty weekends and 4,000 km per year!), despite a work injury which disabled for over a year. Even his wife Chantal, who doesn't have every weekend off, ends up being a judge at certain competitions. A family story therefore, because we know that volunteer commitment has a good impact on an entire family and sets the pace for its organization.
Éric, with a humble, discreet and generous personality, but with an assertive character, is none other than a pillar of the ACVR, alongside Camille Lopez (graduate coach), Joaquim Campos, and Magalie Eyssette who also contribute to the smooth running workouts.
From this beautiful evening, we will undoubtedly remember the common point of all the faces and personalities emerging from these thirty medalists: gentleman-and-madam-everyman, like one could come across all of them. days, with somewhat drawn features for the less young, but all filled with humility, simplicity, and a lot of generosity; an evening full of good vibes and hope.
