DESCRIPTION DU PROJET

Edouard will hiking four different GR (Grande Randonnée) trails in France. Each hike will last between 10 to 14 days, with the goal of being as self-sufficient as possible (sleeping in a tent and cooking his own food). He will begin with the Tour Du Mont Blanc (TDM) on July 1st and finish with the GR 21 (Littoral de la Normandie) on August 30th. This journey also includes the GR70 (Sentier de Stevenson) and the GR738 (Traversée de la Belledonne). Covering a total distance of approximately 756 km and a cumulative elevation gain of 28,750 meters in only 46 days, this will be his most significant sports challenge to date.

Edouard will be undertaking this challenge in order to create awareness and raise funds for Women and Girls suffering from bleeding disorders in Mauritius.

For many years, people believed that only men and boys could have symptoms of haemophilia, such as bleeding in general and bleeding into joints, and that women who “carry” the haemophilia gene do not experience bleeding symptoms themselves.

We now know that many women and girls do experience symptoms of haemophilia. As our knowledge about the disorder has increased, so has our understanding of why and how women can be affected. Some women live with their symptoms for years without being diagnosed or even suspecting they have a bleeding disorder. This has a profoundly negative impact on their quality of life.

Bleeding disorders, such as von Willebrand disease (VWD), haemophilia, rare factor deficiencies and platelet function disorders, can affect anyone, but women and girls often face unique challenges due to menstrual and reproductive health issues. Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis can lead to severe complications, including anaemia, haemorrhage, and compromised reproductive health.

Historically, these disorders have been perceived as rare in females, leading to gaps in research, diagnosis, and treatment.