Sport for social change, 30/11/2024

RTL Today - The Lisa Burke Show

LUNEX legends undertake the Laponie Trophy to raise money for the Red Cross’s programme to support families with trauma through nature activities.
Imagine the drudgery of a one hour commute each way to work: France to Luxembourg and back again, to do an office job for the Red Cross Luxembourg. This was Sonia Barjonnet a few years ago. She wanted to do more for her employer, the Luxembourg Red Cross, rather than ‘just’ an office job. Sonia wanted a challenge, and with a random google search for ‘Adventure Travel’ she happened upon the Laponie Trophy. Her reasons:
“Because I don't like the cold, I've never been to Lapland; because I'm not sporty, I've never run a marathon; for all of these reasons, I signed up, a bit by chance, for the Laponie Trophy in 2024 in aid of the LRC.”
This three day event in January, with temperatures hovering around -30 degrees Celsius, takes place in Lapland and requires proper preparation. The first day is a walk / run with rackets for about 10-15km; the second day is an orientation race; the final day involves a Nordic ski 4 x 800m relay race and then an obstacle course. It’s not for the faint of heart.
On top of hard training, Sonia had to start using social media to communicate and ask for sponsorship.
LUNEX LEGENDS
Dr. Kim Buchholtz, born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, is Assistant Professor in musculoskeletal physiotherapy, chair of the exam board and programme leader for the Bachelor in Physiotherapy here at LUNEX in Luxembourg.
“The hill that I am willing to die on is that we should (almost) all be doing more physical activity than we do for our mental and physical health… it’s more powerful than medication in preventing disease.”
Her motto is ‘Lift as you rise’ - use one’s privilege and opportunity to provide spaces and mentoring for those less experienced, less privileged and less supported than us to have the same or better opportunities in life than we have had.
Kim believes that young adults should be able to see themselves in their role models, and therefore wants to show her current and former students, and patients, that “even a geriatric millennial with low cold tolerance can trek through the snow at -30 degrees for a good cause!”.
Dr. Buchholtz was recognised in 2018 as one of the Mail and Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans in the Health category. https://200youngsouthafricans.co.za/kim-buchholtz-2018/
Dr Johanna Johannsson Ingvarsdottir is a senior lecturer and research fellow in the Department of Health at LUNEX.
Similar to Sonia, Johanna had a bucket list of activities she wanted to pursue. One was to visit Lapland, another was to complete a sports challenge. The Laponie Trophy combines both.
Johanna believes “It doesn’t matter how slow you go, so long as you don’t stop!”
Jessie Tembo is the LUNEX Legends Social Media Manager & student. Sophia Harith is a Research Fellow at LUNEX, lecturer and Programme Leader for Bachelor in International Sports Management, plus a reserve on the team. They would all like to you follow them and their training on social media, but more importantly sponsor them on their GoFundMe page:
https://www.helloasso.com/associations/lunexlegends/collectes/lunexlegends-lapony-trophy
https://gofund.me/bef3798b
Or here:
https://www.helloasso.com/associations/lunexlegends/collectes/lunexlegends-lapony-trophy
Instagram: @lunex.legends
LUNEX www.lunex.lu
Croix Rouge Luxembourg
Kim and Johanna have also decided to support the Luxembourg Red Cross, but more specifically their Service d’Accompagnement et de Transition (SAT) who organise outdoor activities for children or families at risk of social isolation, or who have just moved here as immigrants. This is led by Melodie Neves.
As of today, there are approximately 89 children ranging from 4 to 12 years in age, coming from Turkey, Chile, Colombia, Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia, Venezuela, Kosovo, Angola, Ukraine, Zimbabwe, Peru, Eritrea, Gabon and Oman.
Melodie’s team built the ‘First welcome’ centre for those arriving in Luxembourg fleeing war zones. It is the first point of social contact for these children and their families, when they land in a strange country, entirely aligned with the mission of the Luxembourg Red Cross: to improve the living conditions of vulnerable people.
SAT helps children with trauma slowly and gently integrate, learn Luxembourg’s languages and culture through building trusting relationships.
“Komm mat an d’Natur” was created to offer children and families with trauma the chance to reintegrate with educational activities in nature that strengthen their well-being and develop their social skills. The aim is to combat social isolation and build self-confidence.
https://www.raid-feminin.com/sahara-trophy/laponie-trophy-raid/
Croix-Rouge luxembourgeoise (@croixrougelu)
https://www.croix-rouge.lu/fr/service/structures-daccueil-et-deducation-integree/
https://www.croix-rouge.lu/en/