Partnering with the Rotary Club of Clermont-Ferrand, Rotary District 1740, France, former Rotaractor Julien Leblay is touring worldwide on his bicycle to promote voluntary blood donation. Now, at age 30, the Frenchman is aiming - along with his wife, Marion Dumas Cheilletz - to cover 27,000 kilometers by cycle from France to New Zealand
Julien Leblay's interest in promoting voluntary blood donation was prompted by a near fatal accident as a teenager. Young Julien was overwhelmed with gratitude when he got 20 units of blood at the hospital during two days following his accident.
Since 2004, when he and a friend founded the organization Voyageurs au Grand Coeur (The Great Heart Travellers), he has bicycled on three continents - Europe, South America and
The Indian newspaper The Hindu met Julien and Marion, a physiotherapist, in early February 2011. Their visit to this country is coordinated by PDG P. T. Prabhakar of Rotary District 3230, Chennai. P. T. Prabhakar is currently President of Global Network for Blood Donation, A Rotarian Action Group (GNBD).
According to The Hindu, the two Frenchmen are meeting people of Kerala, Tamil Nadu,
Julien Leblay and Marion Dumas Cheilletz plan to reach
- There, we will have an extra
During their tour, Julien Leblay and Marion Marion Dumas Cheilletz offer lectures on the importance of donating blood. When back in France, they plan to publish two books and make a movie.
They have a website with updated information of their experience http://voyage-grand-coeur.org.
For map and pictgures, please go to the journal Photos.
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The Great Heart Travellers is :
- an organisation created in January 2004 in order to promote blood donation by way of cycling around the world in separate stages,
- 29,000 kilometers already covered touring 25 countries and three continents (Europe, Oceania, South America),
- since the start of the organization, more than 200 interviews have been given on TV, radios, newspapers, magazines, etc.
- five books published, 5000 copies sold in France,
- lots of talks in France and abroad. In 2009, 100 talks were given all over France,
- the website http://voyage-grand-coeur.org is translated into English and is updated daily with thousands of pictures. 300 visitors at the website every day.