"Sportez-vous bien!", as Brigitte Drumez says. The phrase is both her calling card and the story of her life. The association Des étoiles dans les yeux has financed and run gymnastics centres at hospitals in Roubaix, Seclin, Douai, Valenciennes, Calais and Lens, the Zuydcoote maritime hospital, Jeanne de Flandre, the Montebello medical-psychological centre (CHU de Lille) and the Oscar Lambret centre (Lille). "In concrete terms, this involves equipping a room made available to the establishment and having an APA sports educator mentoring there.

We take care of hospitalised children (in their room or in the gym), and their parents, in the event of long-term illnesses, and young patients who come to the clinic. We can also help them to discover a sport... Our goal: sport for health or sport on prescription. Patients are referred to us by their doctors. The aim is to convey the enjoyment of the activity. We know we have succeeded when young patients are taking regular exercise or when they then join clubs..."

The association also invites children to take part in sporting events. Their next big act of sharing will see the association take hospitalised children from the region to attend Olympic basketball and handball competitions at the Decathlon Arena - Stade Pierre Mauroy. They also attended the 4th Golden September edition of the "Sport & Cancer" Olympic Games backed by Lille Metropole in Jeanne de Flandre hospital (Lille).

Mohamed and Romain Squatt are event partners and will share their stories. These two athletes are former cancer patients who have made a full recovery. "Hospitalised children share in common with athletes the ability to go beyond. I am amazed and I receive a life lesson every day... for 16 years now," says the president, who says "this is my inheritance. In this family, we have an extra chromosome - for volunteering - which I try to pass on to my children and grandchildren," says the mum of a former women's wrestling champion and a son, a disabled adult.

For the time being, Brigitte Drumez is preparing to experience the Games from her holiday location. "I am planning to set up a fan zone here to follow the opening ceremony and competitions, including handball, volleyball and basketball, before carrying the paralympic torch to Valenciennes on 25 August on an invitation from the Nord Département. I am honoured, happy and proud because I will be representing everyone who has trusted us and all the young patients. I want these Olympic moments to be sparkling moments of sharing and happiness..."

Septembre en or, 25 September 2pm, forecourt of Jeanne de Flandre hospital, Lille.

Photo : ©Brigitte Drumez