The cold burns his fingers. For the past five days, Martin Peglion has been pedaling towards Marseille despite the freezing temperatures that accompany him. “I continue to help those who live outside, in such cold, every day, explains the young Parisian. I don’t have the right to complain. “
As Christmas approaches, a celebration that evokes family, sharing, convivial meals, Martin wants to raise money for those who have none of this. Friday, after having broadcast a call for donation on social networks, he left Paris to reach Marseille, independently, with the idea of traveling 800 kilometers in 8 days. This Tuesday, he is near Saint-Etienne.
“Christmas, it is not through the gifts that it must pass, we give them too much importance”, specifies this student of the University of Paris-Est Créteil. Coming from a modest family, Martin measures “how lucky we are, without realizing it” of being able to enjoy a hearty meal with the family. A chance for which he almost feels guilty.
A veiled wheel and a faulty brake
“I’ve always wanted to do something big to help the homeless, without having a specific idea. He began by marauding during confinement, by helping as much as he could with his modest means. And now, he assures him, he has found “the challenge of [sa] life ”, combining his taste for adventure and his desire to help.
Travel 800 kilometers in eight days, a challenge reserved for the initiated? It is quite the opposite of what Martin is trying to prove. The young man is not a cyclist, “does not particularly like the bicycle” and sees it simply as a means “to be freer and to go further for free”. In the saddle on his old bike, with a warped wheel and a faulty brake, he decides to ignore the “it’s impossible.” “” The cyclists and repairmen I’ve seen have all told me that it was a lot of bullshit to ride this bike. But, for him, that is part of the challenge. The young man intends to demonstrate that with “a bike and a mind, anyone can do it”.
Social media craze
When the adventure gets too difficult, Martin removes the airplane mode from his phone and reads the many encouraging messages he receives. “Without all these people supporting me it wouldn’t have been the same at all. If I get to Marseille, I will say that we did it together. “
The fundraising that it opened with the Restos du cœur now exceeds 1,000 euros. She had 500 before he even left. This enthusiasm strengthens him in his idea of making exploration his profession in the future. His next step? The 8,000 kilometers! Maybe Moscow, “but it’s not far enough yet. The dream is Bangkok! “