I had a dream.
I had a dream that seemed far away.
Take part in the Diagonale des fous.
My name is Wilfrid. I'm 56 years old and have always been athletic. I started running again after a knee injury in 2009.
After doing a lot of road running, I naturally gravitated toward trail running as part of my training and through the people I met.
Our organization, the TI TRAIL TEAM, was born out of these encounters. Many trail running projects have come to fruition within our organization, including the famous Grand Raid de la Réunion in 2022, 2023, and 2025.
Every year at this wonderful event, a member of TEAM has run on behalf of the Rare Diseases Foundation.
Whether by mere chance or fate, in 2025 the foundation contacted me to participate in the Diagonale des fous. My dream came true. But that dream almost never came to life.
In 2023, I secured a spot in the Diagonale through a cancer charity. It was a two-fold project that was very close to my heart. Fate had other plans, however, because a week after securing that coveted spot, I suffered a heart attack during training.
The diagnosis is in: a rare heart defect. I’ll have surgery in July 2023. My dream is slipping away, but my motivation remains strong.
After months of cardiac rehabilitation, getting back into shape, and training, I'm returning to running stronger than ever.
My dual goal is still on track, and this time, running under the foundation’s colors seems like the obvious choice.
In June 2025, Loris Chaumeil contacted me to offer me a race number for the Grand Raid de la Réunion, and the project began to take shape. The fundraising campaign was a success, and I finished the 2025 Diagonale des fous.
The meeting with the foundation's director on Réunion Island before the race was a very rewarding experience.
From this meeting and discussions with Daniel Scherman, the idea of a partnership between the foundation and our sports association was born. In fact, our TEAM organized the second edition of the Gervald Trail Run in April 2026 in our region of Normandy.
The collaboration with the foundation came about quite naturally. The generosity and enthusiasm of the foundation’s teams contributed to the success of this event. A substantial amount was raised to support the foundation’s projects, as €1 per race bib was donated.
I would like to personally thank the entire foundation team. And especially Loris Chaumeil, without whom I would not have been able to take on this extraordinary challenge.
Of course, I haven't forgotten Pascale Milani, for her enthusiasm and kindness.
Finally, Director Daniel Scherman, who initiated this joint project and is calling for more like it.
The partnership between the TI TRAIL TEAM and the Rare Diseases Foundation is still in its early stages. The values we share are the foundation of a relationship that is bound to last.
2027 will undoubtedly be a year filled with many kilometers under our belts and TRAIL projects, in which the Rare Diseases Foundation will already have a place.
Wilfrid, a runner and dedicated athlete