Enriching

Clara Hughes’ gesture, the withdrawal of $10 000 from her personal bank account to improve the cause of Right to Play, a not-for-profit organisation that supports the development of forsaken children through sports and play, was deeply enriching. Beyond her personal implication, her gold medal helped to awaken the whole country to this cause. Her declarations were brighter than the shine on her medal and her altruistic gesture gilds the community where she lives: Sutton.

In the future, anyone linked to Sutton will be associated with this act and the good heart of this incomparable athlete. Many citizens will profit from it, with reason, by bragging that they are from Sutton and that they know Clara. Others will give her full credit for her success and will follow the example of her generosity by getting involved locally.

In her hour of glory, any viewer would have expected to hear Clara speak of the hard road she had to follow to reach the goal she had invested so much of herself in for so many years. Upon speaking, Clara could have complained of the lack of resources she had to suffer or the efforts and sacrifices she had to make to win the gold. Some athletes would have seized the opportunity of the podium to thank their sponsors to ensure their support in the future. No one would have complained about it.

However that isn’t what Clara did. Instead she chose to refrain from such lines, honestly declaring that she had inherited the genes that allowed her to reach such a high level of performance. And she emphasised that she enjoyed training, that she considered it a privilege. She thanked those who had allowed her to live a life that makes her happy… And, she thanked the Glen Sutton community that has accepted her as one of its own. Then she invited the whole planet to consider the fate of forsaken children around the world, the millions of children who don’t even have the chance to play… forget the remotest possibility of making it to the Olympic Games.

Clara’s nearby community enriches her life, and her presence enriches it. That is why Clara chose to establish her home there and that is why she and Peter, her husband, are well accepted. To be truly happy a person must be able to satisfy his fundamental needs: self-esteem, freedom, health, respect, simplicity…and joy.

Clara’s large smile is only eclipsed by the largesse of her heart. And one enriches the other. Le Tour is inspired by her and encourages its readers to find a way to enrich their summer and that of those in the area.

Happy reading!

Denis Boulanger