DAKAR 2012: Gilles Gard: “Getting back on top form”

Ten years after his first combat against cancer, Gilles Gard is continuing to fight in his own way. Behind the handlebars, the native of the Aveyron region in France will be attempting to conquer the voyage from Mar del Plata to Lima to prove that triumph can be total thanks to sport. Gilles Gard has already experienced mishaps in his life. As a 35-year old endurance enthusiast, he had to give up biking to fight a first bought of cancer in 2001. Four years later, he was again struck by illness, this time leukaemia, which he fought by using sport as an ally: “During the treatment, you have to spend several periods of one month in a sterile isolation room,” remembers Gilles. “I asked for an exercise bike, which allowed me to continue exercising, helped to pass the time and avoid brooding too much. These are advantages that help you pull through. In 2004 it was fairly ground-breaking, but now it’s the type of support that is developing in most hospitals”.

Since these two painful episodes, the time spent recovering was also an active one for the man from Aveyron, who has campaigned and spoken out in support of sport against cancer. What’s more, he met Dakar rider David Frétigné whilst organising an event for the Telethon. The discussions with his illustrious neighbour convinced him that the plan to participate in the Dakar was feasible. Indeed, for several days now, Gilles’ bike has been crossing the sees on the boat heading for Argentina.

Whilst in his life Gilles has since turned the page on cancer, and is now in impeccable shape, the Dakar is both a challenge and an opportunity to strike home a resounding message about the illness. “I want to show that cancer can be beaten, that you need to fight, believe in yourself and that taking part in sport gives better chances of recovery. You can get back on top form and tackle a sporting event like the Dakar. At the same time, I’m hoping to equip certain oncology departments in the Midi-Pyrenees region’s hospitals with physiotherapy bikes. In total, there will be 12 bikes for a budget of € 12,000, including 6 for the Toulouse Cancer Centre”.

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