Every year, with the help of numerous partners, the children under the care of FHU TRANSLAD teams get to enjoy phenomenal event days, specially organised for children and patients, with their families: planes, cars, hot-air balloons, snacks, carnival, etc. This breath of fresh air helps restore family bonds that can often become weakened due to illness. Sharing, communication, hope and togetherness sum up these exciting adventures.
“Sibling” group outings
Thanks to the funds raised through group outings organised by the Groupama foundation “Vaincre les maladies rares (Fight rare diseases)” in Mont-St-Jean on 04 June 2017, the children in sibling groups were able to have a fun day. This enabled the 8-12 group to meet on 10 July 2017 for a day of scientific and genetic discovery at the GAD laboratory. After a group lunch, they attended an improvisation theatre show put on by professional actors, where topics related to their family situation which were personal or difficult to talk about could be discussed. The children who wanted to do so were invited to go on-stage at the end of the show to perform for their families.
The very young group (ages 4-7), for their part, went on an afternoon pony-ride at the Etrier de Bourgogne's riding centre on 11 July, and while there, toured the centre, went pony-back riding, and learnt about horses and equestrian vaulting. It was all about learning to conquer their fear and develop the confidence to ride a horse.
First-time flights
For the 4th time, first-time flights were organised on Saturday 25 May 2019 at the Darois aerodrome, by the Kiwanis-Club of Dijon, for a dozen or so children with diseases. On 27 May 2017, 02 June 2018 and 18 May 2019, 24 young patients also had the opportunity to enjoy a day full of discovery and excitement, thanks to the association “Un avion, un enfant, un rêve” (“One plane, one child, one dream” association). First-time trips by plane, side-car and boat were on the agenda. The day's festivities concluded with parachute-launching, and demonstrations of paramotoring, equestrian vaulting and winching.
First-time Ferrari rides for the children and a lap by Mitjet around Dijon-Prenois for the parents
30 children and their families had an unforgettable time on Monday 20 July 2015 and Friday 8 July 2016, at the legendary Dijon-Prenois racetrack. While the children had the pleasure of a first-time ride in a Ferrari driven alternately by two famous racing drivers, their parents got their thrills in a Mitjet driven by racing driver Cathy Briffa.
Hot-air balloon rides
In September 2016, 4 young patients from the hospital ward had an opportunity to take to the skies for an experience of infinite freedom, thanks to the support of the association CHU-LA-HAUT. Apart from the ride itself, the children joined in preparing the hot-air balloon: setting up the equipment, inflating the balloon, and of course tidying away the equipment. They became key players in this unique experience.
Get-togethers at the library
The mother of one of the children being attended at the CLAD-Est put the care team in touch with the Centre Ville Jeunesse library in Dijon. These get-togethers inspired a desire to work together in a genuine partnership. Since February 2016, families with children directly affected with a rare disease, have been meeting at the library for afternoon sessions during which librarian Mrs. Ballandras introduces several books. She then reads the unanimously chosen books and follows these stories with a discussion about the feelings and experiences these illustrated stories evoke in the children and parents.