The
Galician Lymphedema Association (AGL) supported the initiative of
the French association ‘Vivre Mieux le Lymphedème’ (AVML), its
counterpart with which it shares the objectives of raising public
awareness and improving the quality of life of people with
lymphoedema. The meeting between the AGL and the AVML representative,
Delphine, took place on Tuesday 26 May at 11.30 am in the Plaza del
Obradoiro in Santiago de Compostela, in a space dedicated to the
exchange of experiences and the strengthening of collaborative ties
between the two associations.
Delphine is a nurse at Marcy
Hospital in Metz and has been living with lymphedema for over ten
years. She currently holds the post of regional director for
Alsace-Lorraine at the AVML and is the association’s national
communications officer. Committed to raising awareness of the reality
faced by people living with this condition, and in particular by
affected children, she decided to embark on a personal and charitable
challenge: to walk 200 kilometres of the "Way of Saint James" (Camino de Santiago) in ten
days.
Through
this adventure, Delphine aims to raise public awareness of
lymphedema, a chronic and debilitating condition that remains
largely unknown and which significantly affects the quality of life
of those who suffer from it, with a particular impact on young
people. Alongside the physical challenge, a fundraising campaign was
launched to help children with lymphedema through AVML.
AGL
emphasises the importance of building collaborative networks with
organisations in other countries: when AGL learnt of this initiative,
it contacted Delphine to find out more about the project and arrange
a meeting.
The project’s objectives include: raising
awareness of lymphoedema and its consequences; giving visibility to
children affected by this condition; and raising funds for their
care.
“This challenge is much more than just a journey. It is a way of turning my personal struggle into concrete actions to help other children and families,” says Delphine from AVML.
REFERENCES:
Confederación Galega de Persoas con Discapacidade | COGAMI
Diario Compostela (Digital Newspaper)
Asociación Vivre Mieux le Lymphoedéme
