Morocco: An event supposed to combine solidarity, adventure and support for breast cancer research has turned into a health nightmare for hundreds of women.
The Rose Trip Trek, which took place in the Moroccan desert from October 26 to 31, was marked by a series of health problems that affected more than 200 participants. The account of these events, revealed by France Bleu Drôme Ardèche, highlights deplorable health conditions and highlights the alleged role of the organizer, the French travel operator Désertours.
The Rose Trip Trek Promise
The Trek Rose Trip was initially conceived as a solidarity race, intended to bring together women in a common effort to support breast cancer research. The participants, after months or even years of training, came from all over France, driven by the desire to contribute to a noble cause while embarking on a grueling adventure.
However, the dream quickly turned into a nightmare. Sarah Costanzo, 41, is a breast cancer survivor. She undertook this journey with passion, having invested more than 1600 euros in this adventure. The proceeds were to be donated to associations fighting against breast cancer, and for Sarah, it was essential to show that after an illness, it was possible to take on challenges.
Early Signs of a Health Crisis
The start of the Rose Trip Trek went well, but on the third day, Sarah started to experience health problems. During the stage, she collapsed. Her comrades called for a doctor, but none was available, as they were already busy with other women in more serious conditions.
Sarah then made the decision to continue, covering 19 kilometers in increasingly difficult physical conditions. She remembers these moments as an ordeal, a perpetual struggle to move forward while many other participants suffered from vomiting and diarrhea in the dunes.
Returning to camp was not a relief. Things quickly deteriorated, with hopes of evacuation dwindling. Sarah and others experienced a desperate situation, forced to remain in their own vomit and excrement, in an unsanitary environment. The on-site medical team was overwhelmed, and the camp had only 30 toilets for nearly 900 people, including staff.
The Alarming Toll
The results of this epidemic have been alarming. According to Désertours, the travel operator, around 200 runners were affected, 15 of whom were hospitalized in Morocco. However, participants dispute these figures, saying that more than 245 women were affected.
Among the factors involved is the lack of anticipation on the part of Désertours. The operator had already organized a similar event, the Trophée Rose des Sables, a few days earlier, which was also affected by an epidemic. The participants accuse Désertours of not having taken the necessary measures to avoid a repetition of this situation.
In addition, the sanitary conditions on site were deplorable. Testimonies report unemptied bins, insufficient equipment and a blatant lack of hygiene. The participants had chosen to participate in this event to support a noble cause, but they were confronted with a very different reality.
A Justified Revolt
The participants’ dissatisfaction is accentuated by the feeling of betrayal. Each of them had invested a considerable sum to participate in this race, with the conviction that substantial funds would be donated to associations fighting against breast cancer. However, the revelation that only 20,000 euros out of more than 1.3 million euros collected would actually be paid to these associations caused deep discontent.
Désertours had failed to clearly specify the amount that would be donated, thus creating a feeling of deception among the participants. The general feeling is that this travel operator did not meet their expectations, thus compromising the vision they had of this experience.
The Fight for Justice
Faced with these disastrous circumstances, a collective of participants was formed to gather evidence and testimonies with a view to taking Désertours to court. They want their action to put an end to such practices and prevent other people from becoming victims of this travel operator.
An investigation is currently underway by Moroccan health authorities, with which Désertours assures full cooperation to determine the origin of the epidemic and how it spread. The company also claims to have chartered a plane to allow the last runners there to return to France.
This sad episode of the Trek Rose Trip highlights the crucial importance of ensuring adequate sanitary conditions during events of this scale. Additionally, it highlights the need for full transparency from organizers regarding donations to charity. This trip, initially designed to support a noble cause, turned out to be a traumatic experience for its participants, who will not soon forget these dark days.
