Les "100km de Millau / The Millau 100 km
Jacques Martinaux has chosen to run in the renowned race, the Millau 100 km, this year, which will take place on the 25 September 2010, wearing the ‘colours’ of placet International Côte d'Azur. We are extremely touched by his gesture and wish to convey our grateful thanks for his support of our cause! Read here the wonderful ideas that motivated his actions.
"Why run for a cause? Simply because I don’t believe there is anything worthwhile to be gained simply through the act of running. What could be more futile in itself!
Of course, a runner ‘discovers’ in himself, through himself, understands and understands himself, feels, learns and knows himself, ‘personally’ all that he gains from running a race on foot. But, in the end, all that remains very ‘personal’.
What luck! All this energy at my disposition, this energy that enables me to use it to the maximum, yes that is luck. Great luck! All the time that is left to me to use it uniquely and exclusively for my own being, a huge thank you to this giver that I should not forget and that is so present in my heart.
So, why not share this time and energy? Why not make this a little more useful? A running race is only a question of distance.
Distance in the depths of one’s spirit to find the strength to continue, distance in the time that one tries to apportion and finally distance in the space where the only borders known to a runner are the beginning and ending markers of a race.
Running for Placet France is just a way of pushing the limits, pushing the limits? Isn’t that the reason for long distance running?
placet International Côte d'Azur is an association that gives hope, through reparative surgery, to victims of violence of all kinds; conflicts, bombs, catastrophes, and who don’t have the technical or financial means to get operated on so they can regain their autonomy and dignity in their own country.
I know placet International Côte d'Azur through my work. As an ambulance driver I have transported some of their victims, generally children or teenagers who had all their lives ahead of them. What recognition in their eyes and those of their family!
Yes, I can volunteer, give a little of my energy and push the limits of my thinking beyond myself.
There are no limits to the range of actions by placet International Côte d'Azur. Suffering exists throughout the world, even next to my home. But, my home is what? The four walls of my apartment? My appartment building? My town? My country? As the dream of every long distance runner is to run throughout the entire world, I decided to push my walls to the limits and so my range of actions has no limit either.
I will certainly be very happy, one happy person amongst many, who will see the end of the Millau 100km, but I will be even happier still if the small help I can bring to Placet France will bear fruit by bringing this worthwhile organisation to the attention of others.
I will be part of future articles concerning actions planned by the organisation and it is with great pleasure that I open by paying tribute to its President, Sibylle von Plessen, who I heartily encourage to intervene each time she sees fit."
