Toulouse. Tandem bike rides for the visually impaired
Once a week, on Thursday morning, within the AVH association (Association Valentin Haüy) there is a tandem bicycle outing for the visually impaired.
For Eric, retired, who recently joined the group of volunteers, it is a natural extension of his sporting activity. “I have always cycled, both to get around Toulouse and for fun and I had the opportunity, even during my professional life, to pedal in many passes in the Pyrenees, he explains, then helping disabled people is a real pleasure and the atmosphere is perfect for making new friends.” Philippe, suffering from significant myopia which worsened with age, discovered the association through the audio book workshop and he came to the practice of the tandem to continue exercising physics in duo. “I have already cycled solo before my illness got worse, and it’s true that it takes a certain amount of practice to ride in pairs, but to be able to resume a bit of sport with the safety of a leader, it’s all profit,” he continues.
As Jeau-Luc Galdeano, head of the tandem section of the AVH branch in Toulouse, points out, the Valentin Haüy association, named after the pioneer in helping young blind people in the 19th century, is a pioneering structure for support in the daily life of the visually impaired and blind. It has existed at the national level for more than 130 years with the aim of helping the blind and partially sighted to come out of their isolation, and to provide them with the means to lead a normal life. Thus it develops many other support activities: Braille, English, yoga lessons, cooking workshop, recording and loan of audio books, accompaniment on outings, but also administrative or social assistance. As we can see, the range of aid granted is very wide, with even a sports club approved by the ministry. And the association is always in need of volunteers for its various activities.