The Juliette Gréco Hall in Carros hosted an extraordinary performance of the play Rendez-vous en quartier inconnu. This solidarity evening, organized for the benefit of the association Tous en piste avec Baptiste, gathered a large audience in a convivial and family-friendly atmosphere, centered around a deeply impactful cause.
Understanding Baptiste’s Disability
The association tous en piste avec Baptiste, founded by Baptiste’s parents in collaboration with other families, is dedicated to improving Baptiste’s daily life and raising public awareness about disabilities. Baptiste is severely disabled, born with a rare mutation of the MEF2C gene, affecting about 700 children worldwide. This disability results in several combined challenges: intellectual deficiency, autism spectrum disorders, motor delay, lack of oral language, and epilepsy.
“We set up this association with many families of severely disabled children to raise funds to finance everything from medical and paramedical equipment to intensive rehabilitation courses“, explain Baptiste’s parents. “For us, the families, there are always out-of-pocket expenses on many things, such as the walker, adapted car seat, home chair or custom bed. The social security ceilings are quite low, so you always need to add money. What we also do within the association is organize events like tonight’s play, where the profits are donated to us, but mainly to raise awareness, talk about disability, show Baptiste and his friends, and engage the public.”
Moving Testimony from a Mother
The most striking moment of the evening was the testimony from Baptiste’s mother: “It can happen to anyone, and sometimes just a bit of open-mindedness can help. I read a book by Samuel Lebihan that said ‘a happiness I wouldn’t wish on anyone’. Baptiste is our sunshine, he is our joy, and it’s hard. Sometimes, all it takes is for someone to extend a hand… Last week, I went to an appointment with him, and at the entrance, there was a block with the wheelchair, I couldn’t get through. A lady across the street then said, ‘Wait, I’m coming.’ And that simple gesture made me smile. Sometimes, really, it doesn’t take much to make our lives easier, and a little open-mindedness would help us enormously.”
An Engaged Association Looking Toward the Future
Beyond the testimony, the association is decisively future-oriented: the funds raised help finance therapies, specialized equipment, and rehabilitation courses. The association’s members also organize sporting activities, such as running during the No Finish Line in Nice or adaptive skiing, which allow the children to have fun while also raising funds.
This evening in Carros illustrates the importance of local initiatives to support families and raise public awareness of disability. By bringing together family, residents, and supporters, the event was a moment of sharing, emotion, and solidarity, reminding everyone that a gesture, even a simple one, can make a huge difference in the daily lives of the families involved.
