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Following the passage of storm Alex, Gym launched in November a double solidarity operation to help the valleys behind Nice. To start with, there was a tombola with 24 shirts paying homage to Dante, signed by the captain and worn by the players in the warm-up before the match between Slavia Prague and OGC Nice. Then there was an online auction of shirts from the Nice-Rennes game. That came to an end yesterday and in total more than €30,000 was raised to help those affected by the disaster.

From the day following the passage of storm Alex, Gym moved into action, mobilising in order to come to the aid of those affected in the valleys. Blankets, clothes and food were donated in order to satisfy essential and immediate needs. Then came the time to go deeper in order to participate in the reconstruction and the resilience of the valleys.

A few days after the serious injury sustained by Dante, the Gym players warmed up wearing shirts bearing the name of their captain, the Brazilian international, at Slavia Prague. The 24 shirts, signed afterwards by the player, were put up for grabs in a solidarity tombola that came to an end on December 6.

One week later, on December 13, Gym welcomed Stade Rennais to Allianz Riviera. For the occasion, shirts worn by the Nice and Rennes players in the match were placed into an online auction. Open from the kick-off of the match, the sale finished on Sunday evening, at around 21:00.

Numerous supporters, sympathisers and even Gym players - Amine Gouiri, Jeff Reine-Adélaïde, Morgan Schneiderlin - bought the shirts that were put on sale. But they were not the only backers, as L1 clubs - LOSC, Montpellier HSC, Girondins de Bordeaux - and the Ligue de Football Professionnel also participated in the online auction or donated to the donation fund.

In total, more than 30,000 euros were raised and transformed into concrete aid for the inhabitants of the disaster-struck valleys via the Partagence charity.

They said:

Virginie Rossetti, Communications and Brand Director of OGC Nice: "We are modestly happy to have been able to raise this sum to help the inhabitants of our valleys. The funds are destined for the reconstruction of the homes of families affected by storm Alex. We would like to thank all our supporters for their precious contribution. But also the world of football that associated themselves with us, to Stade Rennais of course, who offered their match shirts, and also the Ligue de Football Professionnel, MHSC, LOSC, and Girondins de Bordeaux who by buying the shirts and the donations that are part of the élan of solidarity helping our victims. In this difficult period that we're going through, this coming together is simply something good, and so thanks to them."

The Partagence charity

Founded in April 2014, Partagence is a charity of general interest, specialised in post-emergency situations. The charity intervenes following natural disasters (floods, storms, earthquakes, fires…).

Under the command of the president and founder Claude Frégeac, Paratagence offers solutions to victims of disasters with aid in rehabilitating damaged homes, advice when it comes to insurance and the setting up of professional psychological support.

For more information, visit the website of the charity.

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