The Vendée Globe 2024 is set to see a new form of art sail the seas. In November 2024, the boat Initiatives-C?ur, skippered by Sam Davies, will set sail with poetic and militant works by artist Jef Aérosol on board. This artistic commitment is not limited to aesthetics: it supports a humanitarian mission to fund heart surgery for underprivileged children.
An artistic commitment to a cause
As part of the Initiatives-C?ur project, Jef Aérosol has decorated the cockpit of Sam Davies' boat with his stencils, representing the faces of children who have benefited from surgery thanks to the association. The artist from Lille, whose works adorn the walls of cities around the world, wanted to symbolically bring these children on board. " To paint childhood is to paint hope "he confides. His work brings a strong visual dimension to the project, constantly reminding us of the race's objective: to save lives.
Symbolic faces that travel the world
The children painted by Jef Aérosol are not anonymous. Each of them, like Dieudonné or Gloria, has been operated on thanks to the Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque association, a partner of Initiatives-C?ur. By accompanying Sam Davies through the difficult moments of the race, these faces are there to remind us of the boat's primary mission. Indeed, every follower or like on the project's social networks is transformed into a donation by the boat's sponsors, financing heart operations for children from countries where access to treatment is limited.
Sam Davies, a committed sailor
Sam Davies, who is embarking on her 4th Vendée Globe, is not just a seasoned competitor. She has made Initiatives-C?ur a humanitarian project as well as a sporting challenge. " On the Vendée Globe, I spend most of my time in the cockpit, and his works remind me why I'm sailing "she explains. In addition to his remarkable race performances, including 4th place in the 2008-2009 edition, Sam Davies carries a universal message of solidarity with him at every stage of his sailing.
Goal: 500 children saved
The Vendée Globe 2024 marks a new milestone for the Initiatives-C?ur project. Since 2009, 394 children have been saved thanks to the actions of the association and the project's sponsors, including K-LINE, Les Chocolats du C?ur and VINCI Energies. In 2024, the goal is ambitious: to pass the 500 children operated on mark. Every click counts, and the " 1 click = 1 heart ", which is being launched on October 19, 2024 at the opening of the Vendée Globe village, will continue this surge of solidarity.
