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710km wheelchair trek attracts Macron support
“This meeting means I can now be taken seriously when I am looking for investment to move my business forward”
A man who spent 21 days rolling 710km by wheelchair from Gers to Paris has won the backing of President Macron for his business – making the only Made in France lightweight sport wheelchairs.
Edouard Detrez, 26, has been in a wheelchair all his life but won over Mr Macron, who told him that if Le Fauteuil Roulant Français did not get trade ministry help “he would personally make the trip back to see me in a wheelchair”.
The unexpected meeting came after Mr Detrez rolled his wheelchair from his company base in Lectoure, Gers, to Paris, a massive athletic achievement.
He told Connexion he wanted to persuade the government his product was worth supporting: “When people buy a wheelchair they usually get a social security payment to help. It would seem logical this public money be spent on a French product, re-invested in France.
“Our company was set up two years ago and last year we sold 60 wheelchairs, which is a good start and shows there is a demand.
“We want to produce chairs that can be personalised, as a person is in a wheelchair all day long so why not have something that suits you, just like any other accessory.
“Countries such as the UK and Italy produce wheelchairs for athletes going into the Paralympics, but not France. We hope this will change for the Paris 2024 games.”
He said he had a frank and open conversation with Mr Macron: “It was a great moment, incredible and splendid. He asked how he could help and called over an aide from the trade ministry.
“I was also able to talk about the position of handicapped people in France, particularly as I had spoken to many on my trip to Paris.”
Mr Detrez also met the minister for the disabled and the Ile-de-France region president who asked about being involved with the Paralympics, while Sénat President Gérard Larcher told him he was “meeting the director of a company and not a handicapped person. It brought tears to my eyes.”
Mr Detrez said he is now optimistic for his firm and that more attention will be paid to the disabled.
