From August 25th to 28th , ELA families gathered at Center Parcs in Sologne for the 29th year. The trip brought together 141 families, or over 800 people, for a weekend of exchanges, respite and shared pleasures.
An eagerly awaited reunion
The families were delighted to meet up again on Friday August 25th for the traditional annual event organized by ELA. Eager and happy to be together again, they were welcomed at 4PM by the ELA and Center Parcs teams. ELA families were then invited to share dinner together at the Experience Factory in a warm and festive atmosphere.
On Saturday morning, the welcome meeting, hosted by Crystelle Cottart and Nadia Cerise, provided an opportunity to reiterate the importance of this respite stay and to present the weekend’s program, as well as all the members of the Board of Directors, the members of the ELA team and the godmothers and godfathers present. The latter expressed to the families how happy they were to be at their side during this stay.
The families then took part in the traditional group photo to immortalize this 29th edition, before heading to the Experience Factory for lunch on Saturday, followed by the minidisco in the presence of the ELA godmothers and godfathers. Dancing, singing, laughing, smiling, applauding… the families took full advantage of this moment of joy and good humor.
Among the activities offered to families, the traditional rendez-vous
From Saturday to Sunday evening, there were à la carte activities for all: young and old, people with disabilities, parents, brothers and sisters, carers and companions.
• When dance and disability become one: dancer Pamela, accompanied by Laurent on cello, offered to share a time and a space to discover themselves through the eyes of dance. An enchanting moment for wheelchair users and the lucky spectators who witnessed these suspended moments.
• Nordic walking: Whether for beginners on Saturday or for the more experienced on Sunday, Nordic walking was once again a great way for families to share a friendly, sporty moment in a lush green setting.
• Pony rides: Pony rides were an opportunity for brothers and sisters, with or without disabilities, to share a common activity. Parents had the pleasure of accompanying their little riders for an unforgettable family moment.
• Adapted activities: Under the guidance of sports sponsors, young and old alike took part, with concentration but above all with joy and good humor, in adapted sports sessions such as rifle shooting, fencing, karate…
• The swimming pool: For people with disabilities, water provides a sense of well-being, as it promotes muscular relaxation, freedom of movement and reduces joint stiffness. Immersion in the water provides sensory stimulation, encouraging exchange, pleasure and play. To enable them to enjoy all these benefits, the Aqua Mundo was privatized on Sunday mornings from 8am to 10am. A moment of softness and relaxation guaranteed.
• The photo studio: During the weekend, families had the pleasure of posing in front of a professional photographer’s lens. A sure-fire souvenir of happy moments shared.
• Storytelling: What a joy to be told stories by our actor sponsors! A moment always appreciated by young and old alike.
• The Prin’menade: a tribute to Pascal Prin, ELA president who died in 2019: ELA families gathered in large numbers for a walk in memory of Pascal Prin, in the presence of his children Tiphaine and Antoine.
New this year
ELA families are a driving force behind proposals to enable everyone to share together, experiment and discover new activities. This year, for the first time, the following activities were organized:
• Hairdressing workshop: During the Saturday morning plenary session, the children took part in drawing, painting, board games and make-up workshops organized by the Center Parcs entertainment team. For the first time, a hairdressing workshop was organized by an ELA family. Strass and glitter were the order of the day, as were the stars in the eyes of the children, who were proud to be admired throughout the weekend.
• An exchange group for women/mothers with the disease: at the initiative of an ELA mother, a meeting was set up to enable women with the disease to exchange with others in the same situation, to share their experiences and everyday tips.
• “L’album de Familles d’ELA”: available throughout the weekend, “L’album de Familles d’ELA” enabled those who wished to do so to leave words, photos or drawings symbolizing their involvement and their fight against the disease, and to show their attachment to the great ELA family.
• First dive: On Sunday morning, 19 people, supervised by 7 diving instructors from the Comité régional Handi Sub région Centre, went to Aqua Mundo to discover diving. It was a unique experience, often far more impressive than they could have imagined.
Time for discussion
• First-time families: On Friday evening, families registered for the first time were welcomed by members of the Board of Directors and ELA teams. This was an opportunity to answer any questions the families might have and to inform them about the association and how the weekend would unfold.
• Discussion groups: Throughout the weekend, families took part in discussion groups led by ELA psychologist Marie-Claude Blondeau. These times of exchange designed for families living with the disease on a daily basis are an opportunity for them to get together in complete privacý to confide in each other, help each other, listen to each other and comfort each other. Bereaved families, loved ones of someone affected by leukodystrophy or patients, all are welcomed “with arms wide open” by Marie-Claude to share their daily lives, their difficulties, their joys and their sorrows.
Many thanks to you all!
Our sponsors led and took part in the weekend’s activities with, as always, a great deal of kindness and generosity. Dancing, minidisco, storytelling, fencing, musical breaks, pony trekking, handisport workshops… were all magical encounters with the families.
Our heartfelt thanks go to Gil Alma, comedian and humorist, Shemss Audat, Léa François and Éléonore Sarrazin, comedians, Fabian Wolfrom, comedian, PIHPOH, singer, Fanny Peltier, athlete specializing in sprint events, Béatrice Hess, multi-medal-winning handisport swimmer and Julien Mertine, Olympic fencing team champion at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The ELA team, the members of the Board of Directors and our invaluable volunteers led activities such as the hairdressing workshop, the photo studio, the boutique, Nordic walking, handisport workshops, wheelchair dancing, first dive…
Many thanks to François and Chantal Dequen, respectively delegate-representative and administrator, all the diving instructors of the Comité régional Handi Sub région Centre (Pierre, Jérémy, Maurice, Aziadé, Éric, Olivier and Christophe), André Dobosz, professional photographer, Frédéric Lukaszka, ELA delegate-representative, Kevin Patinaud and Coralie Catherine, ELA families, Tiphaine Prin, adapted sports educator, as well as Pamela Bouthillier, dancer and Laurent Besson, cellist and percussionist.