More and more companies in Reunion are supporting the cause of Odysséa running races, Who, every year, finances support for breast cancer patients. This year, the Run Odysséa association invites companies to form, as part of a CSR approach, groups of volunteers willing to help organize the event.
“Together against breast cancer” : the well-known message of Odysséa will resound again on Saturday November 2 and Sunday November 3 in the forest of L’Étang-Salé. With 17,000 people mobilized last year, Odyssea has become the first Reunion event in terms of number of participants compared to its duration (two days). There were even 21,000 when adding distance races connected with the Odysséa step counter application : in 2023, we ran to the Kerguelen Islands ! The connected races take place this year from Saturday October 26 to Sunday November 11. More, price of his success, Odysséa now lacks the resources for its organizational needs before, during and after the event, which includes a public reception village and four races : 10 km, 5 km (two races : timed or not), 2,5 km and 0,6 km (course marmay). Hence the call to the association's companies “in order to allow their employees to volunteer as a group in the organization of Odysséa Réunion 2024”. Canal Box and Tereos Indian Ocean were the first to set an example by creating groups of volunteers who will work during their working hours alongside the organizers..
285,000 euros collected in 2023
These funds made it possible to open, at L’Étang-Salé, the Caze Rose by Run Odysséa. This welcoming place gives women the opportunity to break out of their isolation in the face of illness and provides care and well-being workshops.. Of these 285,000 euros, 175,000 came from registration fees for the various races and 110,000 from funds collected from communities (Region, Department, CIVILIAN, commune of L’Étang-Salé) and businesses. Nathalie Bourcier, president of the Run Odysséa association, besides, September 10, on the occasion of the launch of registrations for the 2024 event, recalled that the Reunion race was the only one of the 14 Odysséa races on a national scale which did not need to draw on the registration fees collected to cover its own operating needs thanks to the help of businesses and communities.
One of the major events supported by companies
Among the main supporters of Odysséa from the private sector, we must mention the CRC group, partner for twelve years, and Crédit Agricole, partner for five years. Air Safety Meeting (RAS) has been ensuring the security of the site for four years. Soboriz takes care of the catering part (Odysséa risofé). During the month of October, one euro for each bag sold from the Sélection Le Forban range will be donated to Run Odysséa (15,000 bags sold in 2023). For two years, the E.Leclerc Réunion Movement provides substantial support to the cause by organizing a donation collection campaign at the checkouts of its 18 stores : 117,000 euros were donated to the association in two years. E.Leclerc hopes this year to reach the 70,000 euro mark. Mobilizing 180 volunteer employees for the event, E.Leclerc makes the Odysséa collection one of the main highlights of its CSR policy. Kdopays, L’Étang-Salé company, has also been mobilizing for two years for Run Odysséa with aid taken from the price of its boxes. Among the newcomers, SCOPAD, home help cooperative, Vinci Énergies as well as Majin, which will offer warm-ups to participants in the most sporty races. In total, around thirty private and public actors respond, to date, at the annual Odysséa meeting.
Contact and information : contact@run-odyssea.org ; such. 0693 39 78 05.
