J’IRAI VOUS FAIRE VOLER: An Association Full of Kindness to Forget Disability for the Duration of a Flight
Not far from the paragliding landing area in Orcier, on the Route des Grands Champs, Tony Morel, president of the association J’IRAI VOUS FAIRE VOLER, is present with his partner and Marie Lecerf, the association’s treasurer.
J’IRAI VOUS FAIRE VOLER offers paragliding flights for people with disabilities. Tony shares the story of the association.
“I made my first flight in June 2019. It was a true revelation: the happiness, the sensation of flying, the magic of unpacking a backpack and being in the air in just a few minutes. The desire to share this passion came quickly. That’s why I am currently preparing for my instructor certification in Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet, dividing my time between Isère and Savoie,” says Tony.
“As I progressed, I saw associations doing Handi Vol, and I wanted to do the same,” he recalls.
“Two years after my first flight, I had flown so much that I earned my tandem qualification. Then, two years later, I obtained the UCC Hand’icare qualification necessary to do Handi Vol and launch the adventure of J’IRAI VOUS FAIRE VOLER,” he explains.
“This desire for Handi Vol was born because my father has ataxia, a neurodegenerative disease that causes him to lose his balance and, gradually, his mobility. My father, who is passionate about aviation, has always dreamed of flying, and I dreamed of making him fly,” Tony remembers.
“To obtain the precious UCC Hand’icare qualification for flying with an adapted chair, I needed approximately 200 flights with a standard tandem. At the beginning of the J’IRAI VOUS FAIRE VOLER concept, I created an Instagram account and every day I set out to offer flights to people who picked me up. I started posting information about the areas where I would be hitchhiking. People began to follow the project. That’s how I flew 300 people before presenting myself for the Handi Vol qualification,” he explains.
“We really want to fly people with disabilities for free, but there is equipment to fund,” he says.
“To make this possible, I gathered a team of friends and volunteers to help us. To fund the equipment, we came up with the idea of offering classic tandem flights to our generous donors starting at €80. We are also looking for local partners, like businesses, to whom we offer to print their logo on the tandem wing in exchange for a larger donation. This would give them visibility on our social media, our website, and in the sky,” he continues.
The association’s goal for the coming months is to successfully fund a flying chair to start organizing Handi Vol events. They hope to begin in the spring.
“We want to organize these events in Savoie, Haute-Savoie, and Isère to enjoy the beauty of these locations. By changing locations after each 100% free event, we do not compete with other structures offering paid Handi Vol,” explains Tony.
The idea is to grow the association gradually by participating in existing events and organizing their own in the future.
“In any case, people can also visit our website www.jiraivousfairevoler.fr to find all our news and upcoming events. They will also be able to follow the progress of our project and help us with voluntary donations,” he reminds us.
“I remember a young person with a disability who didn’t speak at all. After a paragliding flight, he began to talk and overcame his barriers. We are truly lucky to see the benefits this brings. It’s for these moments that we want to be present and useful for their well-being,” Tony concludes.
Article by Valentin Decarriere