When friends of Kate Manouvrier, inhabitants of Beaune, invited her to visit them, the surprise was in size when she replied that she would come … by bicycle, while she lives in Lille.
“I have 500 kilometers to do so I have to train, even if I am on an electric bike,” says this mother of two children. To give meaning to her journey, she wants to raise awareness of a cause that is dear to her: ADHD (deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity). “My two sons are ADHD and it is not yet well known in France,” she explains. She adds: “My youngest son showed signs from 5 years old, but he was only diagnosed with 11 years old. My elder started to have symptoms at 17. Between medical wandering and lack of support, the course was long, difficult and expensive. »»
“When you are a parent, it’s not easy, because you are alone and you think you are the only ones”
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the executive functions of the brain. It often manifests itself by difficulty managing pulses, following instructions or staying focused. “When I ask one of my sons to get something in the cellar, for example, I have to repeat at least 10 times,” says Kate Manouvrier.
There are two main forms of this disorder: the hyperactive form, “my youngest son is, he is always moving, and in class it can impact others” and the inattentive form, like his elder: “He hovers, he is in his world, he does not listen”, she details. “The teachers are very little trained for this. You have to repeat all the time and be patient. On the other hand, they are very creative children. You just have to take the time, ”explains the mother. “When you are a parent, it’s not easy, because you are alone and you think you are the only ones,” she continues. The diagnosis, itself, is a real obstacle course: pediatrician, speech therapist, psychomotrician, psychiatrist … with sometimes one to two years of waiting, then another several months to obtain treatment.
A lunch on May 8 in Châteauneuf then a visit to the Hôtel-Dieu
Faced with this observation, this mother decided to move the lines. She created a GoFundme kitty to finance awareness actions, and wishes to offer her help to other parents. Yoga teacher, she also plans to organize relaxation workshops. “Parents, in general, are exhausted,” she says.
His challenge will start on Monday May 5, with an arrival scheduled in Beaune Thursday, May 8, around 5 p.m., Porte Saint-Nicolas, after a lunch break at L’Orée du Bois restaurant in Châteauneuf. It should travel around 125 kilometers per day, mainly on departmental roads.
“People can go a long way with me”
His route is published on Facebook, and Kate Manouvrier appeals: “People can go a long way with me if they want. It would be great if people joined me in Châteauneuf to do the last 30 kilometers. By sharing her adventure on social networks, Kate Manouvrier hopes to break prejudices about ADHD, raise awareness, inform about this disorder and raise funds to support families, who rub shoulders with this disorder on a daily basis.
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Forms of ADHD exist: the hyperactive form and the inattentive form
