Inspiring testimony
From teeth to engagement: Marcol’s fight
Having become quadriplegic at 17, Marc Olivier Perotti succeeded in the impossible by regaining the use of his members. Today, its association allows disabled people to have exceptional experiences.
Some members of the Kyfékoi association around the “handitrike” of the Geneva Motard association in the world, as well as Katia and Vincent the 2 cyclists who have just finished 2000 km by bike between Spain and Portugal.
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- The Kyfékoi association, founded by an old quadriplegic, offers activities adapted to disabled people.
- Thirty exceptional events are organized each year for members.
- The acquisition of a suitable handitrike will provide more driving experiences.
- Sports and charitable initiatives support the financing of association’s projects.
Marcol (Marc Olivier Perotti) is the president of The Kyfékoi association (recognized as a public utility), I met him to discover under what circumstances he decided to create this association.
What is your life course and why did you decided to create this association?
In the summer of 1984 on the eve of my 17th birthday, I plunged into the Atlantic Ocean and in a second my life changed. My head violently hit a submerged sand dune. My cervical vertebra C5 explodes. The spinal cord is damaged, instantly I lose the use of my arms and legs. I am quadriplegic. After a succession of happy coincidences which will come to thwart this tragic destiny and after more than a year of rehabilitation, a patient and tenacious fight, I find the use of my members. Ten years after my accident, I decide to get involved for those whose fate was not as happy as mine. With my designer friend, we relate my story in an illustrated BD book. The sales recipe for this small book made it possible to finance a researcher in the field of paraplegia for a year. I then engage in the International Research in Paraplegy Foundation (IRP) in Geneva.
You have written a book on this subject I think.
Yes, at the end of 2018 I take out my book: “I defeated the quadriplegia – my incredible vertical fight” by Favre editions, an autobiographical book in which I tell my experience as an old quadriplegic and my resilient journey. We can always acquire this book by contacting me. As I know the two worlds, that of “valid” and that of “invalids”, it was important to me to offer exceptional activities to people with disabilities. So I created the Kyfékoi association in 2011 (Franco-Swiss).
Your association has around a hundred members, all volunteers, around thirty are with disabilities (paraplegic, quadriplegic, myopath, multiple sclerosis, BIM, visually impaired, non-voyering, bipolar, traumatized cranial, cognitive disorders, etc.). What are your actions and activities?
The Kyfékoi association offers its members about thirty activities per rather unusual but adapted year, such as: creating a perfume with a nose, being a co -pilot in an ice racing car, living a human and humanitarian adventure in Morocco, making a cruise in the Mediterranean, learning to taste wines with a renowned sommelier, fly in ULM and helicopter, ride in Karting Biplace, Rider Joëlettes, slide in Handiski. Within the Kyfékoi association, we promote social integration and development of people with disabilities, we encourage mutual aid and we educate the public to the world of disability.
You have recently decided to acquire a suitable trike (3 -wheeled motorcycle) for your members who are disabled (it is the handitrike of the association Geneva bikers of the world that made you want), explain to me this initiative.
One of the favorite outings of our members is our annual trip to the bikers of the world and their handitrikes. The handicap is forgotten, freedom is found and the “waouh” effect of these trikes on the public is undeniable, they are far from imagining that the passengers, even the pilot are suffering from disability. Given the enthusiasm for these vehicles we adapted them to driving by a person with disabilities. We will be able to offer more outings to our members. Thanks to the Auxilium association, based in Geneva, almost half of the budget was collected during a charity evening. We also had a very beautiful partnership with Katia and Vincent who made a journey of 2000 km by bicycle in Spain and Portugal to highlight a helloasso kitty for the adapted trike of Kyfékoi and thus raise funds during their great adventure. They also emulated and in mid-July, another sportsman will go by bicycle, in total autonomy from the Jura to Brittany to pedal around 1800 km in 2 weeks. A new kitty will be put online, a prize pool that can be found on the Kyfékoi association website. For the balance, I actively look for sponsors and donors. Each contribution brings us closer to this unique human and mechanical adventure.
I imagine that all these activities, even if you are surrounded by volunteers, have a cost. Who are you supported by?
Our annual support evening for the association is a good source of income, as well as the annual contributions of our members. But we also need it, I was talking about donations and sponsorship.
For those who would like to participate in your adventure, where can they S’Arres?
Those interested in joining or supporting us are welcome and can contact us via our website: www.kyfékoi.com or via social networks Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok.
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