The Jean-Luc Lagardere Foundation was quick to respond to the appeal for support launched by the first year students of the Auguste Escoffier college. Ten young people will travel to New York, accompanied by two teachers. Only six will be able to take part in the marathon, with the others producing a photo reportage on the city and the race.
The aim of the project is to give the students a sense of achievement in working towards a motivating objective.

Training began in January 2007, taking place each Wednesday afternoon. Christophe Vatinel, an experienced triathlete (and who figures among the ten best French triathletes of all time) is supporting the students in their preparations and will run alongside them on the day of the race.

Armand Tomaszewski, the TeamLagardère doctor and a former marathon runner, will be helping Vatinel by providing nutritional advice and tips on preparation methods. An afternoon at Sophia-Antipolis, TeamLagardère’s sporting centre, has also been scheduled.

The students have also put together a website about New York, bringing together contributions from artists inspired by the “Big Apple”.

The reward for having covered 42 kilometres of New York tarmac? A Broadway musical and an evening at the New York Alliance Française!

To see the website about the N ew-York Marathon, click here