Violette Duval, 37, travels across France on foot to raise awareness of her disease: fibromyalgia. A pathology still too little known according to her, in the medical world and among the general public, which causes permanent pain.
She left Marseille on March 19. A month later, we meet her 600 km away, along the Route des Grands Crus, in Côte-d’Or, between Ladoix-Serrigny and Dijon. Violette Duval travels light: her only companion is a big stroller in which she stores her things, her electronic equipment, her tent.
A long solo journey, to draw attention to the disease she carries: fibromyalgia. “It’s muscle and joint pain all over the body, all the time. It’s like having the body of someone 80, 90 years old“, says Violette Duval. “It’s a bit like having a big flu all the time, with significant chronic fatigue.“Former high-level sportswoman, this native of Normandy practiced basketball, before feeling the first symptoms of the disease in adolescence.
“Today, walking is kind of the only activity I can do. I take my pleasure in walking, discovering new regions. And walking creates endorphins, so it feels good.”
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If Violette walks today, it is also, above all, to make her illness known. Author of a book in which she recounts her journey, it intends to submit it on April 21 to the Ministry of Health to alert the public authorities. “Fibromyalgia is not yet recognized by Social Security. Doctors know little about it.“
“That’s what I’m fighting for: to raise awareness and make this disease known, so that we are finally recognized, that we have suitable treatments, research on fibromyalgia.”
Like many other patients, Violette experienced a period of medical wandering. It was not until he was 25 that a diagnosis was finally made. “We are often told that it is in our head. We are still sent to a pain center, even though it is not suitable. There is not enough training; physiotherapists sometimes don’t know what fibromyalgia is.“For the 30-year-old, things have to change.
“I bring my little stone to the building. The message has to get through and we have to be heard.”
The long walk of Violette Duval is to be found on his Facebook page. In the next few days, you may be able to meet her on the roads of Burgundy: she intends to stop at Sombernon, Ancy-le-Franc, Tonnerre, Auxerre, Joigny and Sens, which she hopes to reach on May 2.
This Marseille-Paris is not his first attempt: Violette Duval has already traveled nearly 7000 km across Europe and the world by walkingto publicize his illness.
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