Two Côte d’Oriennes embark on an adventure… for a good cause! Catherine Godard, aka “Cathy”, and Laure Gauthier Boldrini, aka “Laurette”, are preparing to participate in the Amazon Raid, from October 20 to December 1, 2024 in Cambodia. THE Amazon Raid, it is a sports challenge created twenty years ago, reserved exclusively for women. On the program: six days of events for about 300 competitors, with trail running, mountain biking, archery and canoeing. Motto: “no engine, only sweat”. With less than five months to go, two friends are preparing.
A challenge in honor of two friends
Longtime colleagues at APRR, the highway company, the two women have known each other for more than fifteen years. “Two sisters”, as they like to describe themselves. “We know how to help each other, we are a couple, a tandem,” defines Cathy.
Why did they embark on this adventure? “Two events follow: three years ago we had two colleagues, two very close friends, who left too soon, who died inside each other”, Cathy explains. Marianne and Françoise, hence the name of their team, the “Mariannes.Fr”. “We said to ourselves: let’s do something crazy, let’s go. And we will prove that things are possible. This Amazon Raid, for us, is an adventure that suits us, but what suits our two angels, represented by two associations”.
Two associations: “Cardio transplants” AND “Listening and supporting hospitalized children”. A choice related to their deceased friends. Marianne had heart problems, Françoise decided to work to help children in the hospital.
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How are they prepared?
Amazon attack, a physical challenge that requires some preparation. “I need time, right now I have a preparation that is quite mental, I’m a bit of a diesel. When I’m ready, I’ll go for itlaughs Cathy. It’s been 10-15 days since I started running, three times a week, in the morning, in the evening. Then we will practice canoeing and archery together. I might have to prepare a little harder for mountain biking!”.
“I am in full preparation for the race, I train three times a week”, announces Laure from her side. And with good reason, he will participate on August 10 in “Marathon for everyone”, in Paris. Laure is also involved in archery, in Chenôve. “At least it won’t be the same as with my bow, because the bows will be borrowed”. He will also be volunteering at this event during the Paris Olympics this summer. On the other hand, “canoeing is probably the most complex thing I’ve ever done!” she explains.
You are looking for funds and sponsors
Finance their participation and pay the registration fee, for each participant it is necessary to find at least 4500 euros. So they increase their searches to find sponsors, from brands or companies. “It’s the beginning of the event, we have to find sponsors, we’ve been looking for them for almost a year and a halfclarifies Laurette. It’s really very complicated. We are at 56% of the budget…”.
In order to collect funds for associations, they also organize humanitarian actions: in addition to selling cakes, candles, domestic products and organizing solidarity meals, there is also concert Saturday, June 8, 2024 in Mirebeau-sur-Bèze (at 20:30 at the Church of the Nativity), or the lottery on June 22 in Pontailler-sur-Saône.