Set to run from April 14 to 19, this year’s edition of Les Voiles de St. Barth will be offering pride of place to the Brain and Spinal Cord Institute, the international foundation so dear to Professor Gérard Saillant, who heads up a unique research unit working on developing treatments for nervous system disorders, with applications for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, strokes, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. The organizers of Les Voiles de St. Barth have decided to provide the foundation with an exceptional showcase throughout the competition, with in particular a major gala event on Wednesday, April 16, hosting the event’s partners, owners and racers, but also the institutions, local bodies and businesses from the island of Saint-Barth.
Les Voiles de Saint Barth 2014 Preview
Exceptional guest sponsors for the fifth edition
It is a tradition at Les Voiles de St. Barth. The event has a guest sponsor each year with the presence of a famous personality, and this year there are two guests of honour: Jean Todt (founding member of the ICM / President of the FIA – the International Automobile Federation) and Professor Gérard Saillant (President of the ICM). The latter said he was particularly honored to fulfil this role as a way of thanking all those in the organizing team for the help they have given the foundation. Professor Saillant will therefore be attending the races and will have an opportunity to present in detail the goals and the means available to his foundation at the Gala Event on 16th April.
A big charity event
The Hotel Eden Rock will be hosting a gala evening on Wednesday 16th April, during which a charity appeal will be launched with prestigious objects up for auction. All of the partners to Les Voiles were extremely keen on the idea of becoming actively involved in this charity event and have offered luxury items for auction to owners and all their friends taking part in Les Voiles.
The Saint-Barthélemy local authorities welcome this initiative and are joining together with Les Voiles de St. Barth to support Professor Gérard SAILLANT’s foundation. As President Bruno MAGRAS stresses, “This is a first on the island of Saint-Barth. Sporting values and sailing in particular have place of honour in the political choices made by the local authorities. Halfway through Les Voiles de St. Barth, this event is highly symbolic. The local authorities wished to join in as a partner. The Brain and Spinal Cord Institution is carrying out internationally renowned research and we hope that this event will be a success and will allow the scientists to have more means available to them.”
The ICM, in short…
Created in Paris by Professors Gérard Saillant, Yves Agid and Olivier Lyon-Caen, the Brain and Spinal Cord Institute is a new way of bringing together research into the area of neurosciences. Based at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris, this international research Institute with its 22,000 sq.m, is the only one of its kind and is leading the way in developing treatments.
Public bodies, businesses and donors work hand in hand to bring together patients, the most eminent doctors and researchers from around the world, so they can work together to find new treatments for nervous system disorders.
