More specifically, to help healthcare teams develop sports therapy and promote a better quality of life for patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why sports therapy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
St\u00e9phane Bouquet.<\/em> Cancer and its treatments can lead to persistent fatigue, a loss of muscle strength and a reduction in independence. This makes it harder to be active, and the resulting reduction in activity can in turn exacerbate these difficulties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Supervised by qualified teams, exercise therapy enables us to offer physical activity tailored to each patient\u2019s state of health, abilities and needs. It helps to reduce fatigue, maintain physical abilities and improve quality of life both during and after treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Walking, working on mobility or doing strength-building exercises can therefore help people regain ease in carrying out everyday tasks. The exercises and their intensity are tailored to each person\u2019s individual circumstances, in consultation with the care teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The benefits of this approach have been documented, notably in a review published in 2017 by the National Cancer Institute. It forms part of supportive care, complementing medical treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2017 was also the year we set up Espoir au Sommet, in the belief that we could help make this treatment accessible to more patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n St\u00e9phane Bouquet.<\/em> Our role is to secure funding to bring to fruition the adapted physical activity projects identified by healthcare teams, when facilities do not have the necessary budgets. This may involve equipping a gym, providing equipment or funding the production of a video programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each party contributes its expertise: healthcare teams identify needs, design programmes and oversee their implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For our part, we engage with donors and sponsors to give them the means to make these projects a reality. We act as a link between a need identified on the ground and the individuals or organisations that can help meet it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n S\u00e9bastien Gori.<\/em> It is true that our work as a consultancy specialising in soils and ecosystems may seem far removed from the mission of Espoir au Sommet. However, one must look at the convergence of our core values: \u00a0Espoir au Sommet is about commitment and mobilisation for a cause or a project; sport as a symbol of team spirit, of pushing oneself beyond one\u2019s limits and, above all, of \u00ablooking after oneself\u00bb, each at their own level, each in their own way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then there is cancer \u2013 that silent and often invisible disease \u2013 which is, sadly, a part of our lives; it affects our teams or their loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is these issues that are close to our hearts, and the reasons why we have chosen to support the charity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What convinced us was the charity\u2019s approach and the practical solutions it offers: Espoir au Sommet takes its cue from the needs expressed by healthcare teams and raises the funds needed to meet them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We also greatly appreciate the dedication of its volunteers, who devote their time, skills and energy to this cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since 2019, we have chosen to support them over the long term and to make a modest contribution, alongside other supporters, to the development of programmes that benefit patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n St\u00e9phane Bouquet.<\/em> Our first major achievement was to fund the fitting out of a gym in the IPC 4 building at the Paoli-Calmettes Institute in Marseille. The institute had entered into a university partnership focusing on sports therapy: we helped to implement this programme for patients, with supervision provided by the IPC teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We then supported a scheme combining around forty video tutorials with a linked app, to enable people to exercise in their rooms or at home. We also funded sports kits for teenagers and young adults and supported touch rugby, in partnership with the Rubies club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This initiative has been extended to other healthcare facilities. At the European Hospital in Marseille, we have funded equipment for the obesity treatment centre, as well as video tutorials to support the practice of adapted physical activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the L\u00e9on B\u00e9rard Centre in Lyon, our support has made it possible to provide individual sports kits for teenagers and young adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More recently, we have funded a fitness and health centre in Gap, run by the Mouv\u2019Alps Sport Sant\u00e9 charity, which has medical expertise but lacked the resources to purchase the necessary equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The principle remains the same: to tailor our support to the needs of the teams and to the various care situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some examples of projects supported by the Espoir au Sommet charity<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n St\u00e9phane Bouquet.<\/em> As well as providing equipment, we support programmes that help to develop and diversify exercise programmes. Together with the AP-HM and its Phoceo endowment fund, we are supporting two adapted physical activity programmes in particular: one in the gastrointestinal oncology department and the other at the pain centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We also support equine-assisted therapy and adapted dance, with the latter having recently been extended to include children receiving treatment in paediatric oncology and haematology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, we are helping to fund a study into the introduction of adapted physical activity for children with advanced-stage cancer, involving teams from Marseille, Nice and Nantes. The results are still pending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These support measures serve both to underpin clinical practice and to contribute to research, always building on projects led by the medical teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n St\u00e9phane Bouquet.<\/em> In July 2024, we supported 24 women living with cancer or in remission as they climbed Monte Paradiso, having been trained and accompanied by professionals. Together with another member of the association, we decided to surprise them by joining them at the mountain hut when they returned from the summit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We shared dinner with them and spent the night there. It was a very moving experience, filled with smiles, stories and emotions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We don\u2019t often come into contact with patients. On this occasion, we were able to see for ourselves what had been achieved thanks to the funds raised and the time given voluntarily. These encounters give real meaning to our commitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n S\u00e9bastien Gori.<\/em> Prevention is essential, as is providing support for patients and their loved ones during what is often a gruelling treatment process. Espoir au Sommet works with healthcare teams to develop sports therapy and support those affected by the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I would like to build bridges between the charity, the healthcare teams and our staff across all our sites. Meetings and personal accounts would help us better understand the importance of adapted physical activity during and after treatment, as well as the role of physical activity in prevention. This is what we would like to build towards by 2027, so that we can share this commitment more fully with our teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This issue also concerns us as an employer. How can we support a return to work following cancer? How can we take into account not only the desire to return to one\u2019s normal working life, but also ongoing medical appointments and any lingering side effects? We have a role to play in enabling everyone to find their place again in conditions suited to their individual circumstances. This is our next challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n St\u00e9phane Bouquet.<\/em> No, it is possible to support us as an individual. We have set up an endowment fund which enables us to issue tax receipts to donors. You can make a one-off or regular donation: some people donate 5 or 10 euros each month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every donation helps us to fund the projects led by healthcare teams. The loyalty of our donors also enables us to continue our work over the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Behind every donation and every act of sponsorship lie projects, healthcare teams and the people they support. It is this connection that we wish to highlight and bring to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat exactly is the role of Espoir au Sommet?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.abo-group-france.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/AssociationEspoirAuSommet_EventCaritatif_Med-1024x537.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The Espoir au Sommet charity organises charity events, amongst other things, to raise funds. In the photo, St\u00e9phane Bouquet presents the funds raised to the Phoceo Endowment Fund of the Marseille Public Hospital Trust (AP-HM), represented by La\u00ebtitia PADOVANI, Head of the Radiation Oncology Department \u2013 AP-HM\u00a0(Marseille Public Hospital Trust); Xavier MURACCIOLE, Radiotherapy Oncologist \u2013 AP-HM (Marseille Public Hospital Trust); and Yohann MARIANI, Head of Digital Communications and Philanthropy \u2013 AP-HM <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nIn fact, why did ABO GROUP France choose to support Espoir au Sommet?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What programmes has the charity supported since it was founded?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.abo-group-france.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/AssociationEspoirAuSommet_Sport-therapie-1024x519.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow did the support provided by Espoir au Sommet develop from there?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What moment has made a particular impression on you over the past 10 years?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How would you like to continue this sponsorship with ABO GROUP France?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Is it only businesses that can support the charity?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n