Runners motivated for the solidarity run for the victims of cyclone Chido in Mayotte

Nearly 140 runners braved the cold for a good cause. Hélène Amiraux

There was no shortage of registrations for the Ussa call for this Solidarity Run. Hélène Amiraux

Louan et Louis, deux jeunes poloïstes sétois sont venus en voisins solidaires. Hélène Amiraux

Pour réchauffer les participants, après l’effort, les galettes sont offertes. Hélène Amiraux

L’US Sète athlétisme, organisateur d’une course solidaire ce dimanche à Sète, a récolté une jolie somme reversée à la Croix Rouge au profit des victimes de Chido.

At 10°C and a foggy sky, you had to be motivated on this Saturday, December 4, to go out running. But more than a hundred Sète residents did not hesitate to take part in the “Run solidaire” organized by US Sète athletics on the Lido de Sète. A race set up at short notice by this team of big-hearted athletes for the benefit of the victims of cyclone Chido in Mayotte. A great success in terms of attendance. The club registered no fewer than 114 registrants (free of charge), plus 24 club members. Except Daniel, who is still a member of the club but who lives on the devastated island.

“The donations that we will give to the Red Cross were recorded via a QR code and we also opened a ballot box”, explains Laure Aeberli, the treasurer of USSA. The club had already shown its support for the victims of the earthquake in Morocco last year.

Solidarity of sports clubs and schools

“My daughter is in class at Saint-Joseph and her headmaster worked in Mayotte, that's how I decided to participate”, says Gaëlle, a regular runner. Place Roger-Thérond, she met up with her friend Emeline and her daughter Louise, 9, by chance. The latter, also a seasoned athlete, has already taken part in solidarity runs in favor of breast cancer. “The volleyball teacher at Arago told my daughter about the solidarity run”. This convinced her to combine business with pleasure.

A nice sum collected

Young and old, running or walking, with or without their pet, the runners set off around 4 p.m. on two courses (5 and 10 km) with a return in the sand. The fastest on 5 km were Louan Karsanti and Louis Court, two young polo players, who came as neighbors. “The sand was really vicious,” the two boys said in a breath, for whom it was the first charity race. “If they came to have fun”, they each made a donation. Small amounts that ultimately add up to big rivers. Ussa managed to collect 1,177 euros for the good cause. Hats off.

Next club meeting, the Cettoise race on June 7.