Last October, OGC Nice launched a double initiative to help the families affected by Storm Alex in the area in-land from Nice. In total, €30,000 have been collected and given help, via the Partagence association, to the victims of this natural disaster. On Tuesday, the association received the cheque from Jean-Pierre Rivère and Dante.

The passage of Storm Alex last October left the lives of many of the inhabitants of the Tinée, Roya and Vésubie valleys in tatters.

In response to the situation, OGC Nice quickly mobilised and donated blankets and food before setting up a raffle and auction to help with reconstruction funds. Thanks to its players, sponsors and fans, Le Gym collected €30,000 which were transformed in tangible benefits for victims on the ground.

"With these initiatives, we were able to acquire and provide furniture to affected families," said Partagence coordinator Jérôme Melin. "The funds also enabled us to build a bridge to allow the children of one family to go to school, and to buy fencing for a farmer to keep his animals. OGC Nice didn't hesitate one second when we asked for help, they're the only club to have committed themselves so much. Everything that was done was at the initiative of OGC Nice with the aim of helping and collecting as much money as possible. We would never have imagined the players would join in and buy shirts to increase the total. This desire to help reflects the mentality of OGC Nice and the Niçois."

The families in the valleys affected were quickly able to obtain the necessary items to make their homes habitable once again. "For those of us who had lost everything, we have been able to start rebuilding. OGC Nice and the Partagence association have helped us a lot," explained the Bertagnolio family, whose home in Saint-Martin-Vésubie was devastated by the storm. In the Roya valley, the Venturini family "were able to heat our home again and get it something like back to normal."

The Courtois family home in the Vésubie valley was submerged in nearly a metre of water by the catastrophe. A fish farmer in Roquebillière, Yves Courtois had to stop working. "OGC Nice, through the Partagence association, helped us a lot because we had nothing. They enabled us to get new equipment and it all happened quickly. We didn't expect to have all of that."

As for each of its charitable initiatives, OGC Nice and its Donation Fund were touched by the efforts made by players, sponsors, fans and all those who have given to help the victims.

"I had taken part in an initiative set up by Le Gym following the attack in 2016. This time, I contributed by buying Dolberg's shirt during the auction," explained Jean-François Boutin of Digital Vision. "I then gave it to the mayor of Valdeblore, a gift they deserved after this natural disaster. That was my way of contributing. It's something that the club has done on many occasions to help the local population." It was in the same spirit that sponsors Fior Fleurs joined in the auction for the shirts worn during the Nice-Rennes match. "We bid on [Yoan] Cardinale's shirt from the game and we got it. Having worked with the club for a long time, this initiative was one we wanted to get involved in."

They said it

Jean-Pierre Rivère (OGC Nice President): "It seemed natural for us to do this. OGC Nice has a role in society that it exercises all year round. When tragedies like this happen, it's our role to reach out. Firstly, we donated products that were immediately needed and then we tried to help further by collecting funds. The most difficult thing is to find the right channel through which help can be given as quickly as possible. We approached Partagence, who enabled us to give that help. I would like to thank all those involved: our fans, our players, Stade Rennais, the LFP, and several Ligue 1 clubs who took part in the auction, as well as all the people who helped us with this."

Dante (OGC Nice defender and captain): "It's in the Gym's DNA to come together and help others when things aren't going well. There is a strong attachment to the area and a desire to help whenever possible at the club, and it's something I'm proud to be part of."

Fabrice Claudel of Chevron Villette (OGC Nice sponsor): "As a citizen and as a sponsor of the club, I follow closely what OGC Nice and the Donation Fund do. When I can help, I try to do so. The players and the club, via the Donation Fund, have done exceptional work in coming to the aid of those most in need. It's difficult to find a club that's more active than OGC Nice in those terms. I'm going to try and offer this shirt to a child or use it to help the Breil-sur-Roya club, which was completely destroyed by the storm."

Jordan Minglis (fan, and participant in the raffle): "Above all, I took part to help the valleys! I was very happy to receive this shirt. I love captain Dante. It was one of my best Christmas presents. This club is my passion. Issa Nissa!"

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