As every Tuesday afternoon for a few weeks now, children are arriving one by one at the ramps of the Sammy Skate Club. Today, there will be five of them, all with disabilities, putting on helmets and knee pads to try out scooters, roller skates, or skateboards for an hour. Hugo, 15 years old, keeps smiling as he goes back and forth on the course. “I have been here a few times. I had never done it before, so at first I was a bit scared,” the teenager whispers. But fear not: Hervé Le Lorc’h, Mattéo Sergent, and Damien Le Marer, masters of the discipline, are here to guide everyone.
Sixty children accompanied
Since January, the Groupement de coopération sociale et médico-sociale (GCSMS) “Le petit chêne”, which has respite houses in Saint-Évarzec and Melgven, has teamed up with the French Paralympic and Sports Committee (CPSF) to strengthen the connection between medical and sports structures. “Only 4% of clubs in France are able to accommodate people with disabilities,” reminds Elorrie Golhen, the Brittany representative of the Committee.
The program, costing 2,000 euros, is funded up to 1,500 euros by the CPSF, while Le Petit Chêne covers the rest. Sixty children have already benefited from it since its launch a few weeks ago. “It will be continued from October for fifteen sessions,” says Aurélie Guillou, director of Le Petit Chêne.
Hervé and Damien, employees of the Sammy Skate Club, have received training to welcome this public and are supported throughout the session by a few volunteers from the association “La ferme de Tobie” in Gouesnach.
“Building confidence in themselves”
Behind them, scooters grind on the ramps, and a wheelchair attached to a skateboard navigates the slaloms. The echoing laughter in the Sammy Skate Club hall suggests that the children are enjoying themselves. “The idea is to make the activity accessible. At first, they are hesitant. But quickly they gain confidence. It’s an activity that makes an impression on them, and they sometimes talk about it for weeks,” reports Laurent Quiviger, sports coordinator of Le Petit Chêne. “They take pleasure in being able to participate in a sport like any other,” adds Aurélie Guillou.
To end the day’s session, Hervé, Damien, and Mattéo perform some somersaults and demonstrations, much to the applause and laughter of Hugo, Ethan, and all the others.
