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February 2001
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In Sahara Desert with a topographic map and compass
Montreal, Jan. 31 -
Trophée Aicha des Gazelles, taking place in Morocco from April 19 to 26, 2001.
The Trophée Aicha des gazelles is a unique women-only event that involves
driving off-road for nearly 2,500 km through the desert.
The two members of "Team AD OPT" are Carol Chiasson, 44, a teacher from
Cap-de-la-Madeleine, and Andrée Roy, 42, a NavCanada air traffic controller
from Clarenceville. Competing in the Trophée Aicha des gazelles involves a
combination of strategy, endurance, expert driving and a keen sense of
navigation in which speed is not taken into account.
Over an 8-day period,
Chiasson and Roy will navigate their 4x4 vehicle through the dunes, gullies
and mountains of Sahara desert using only a topographical map and a compass.
GPS and road books are not allowed. Team AD OPT must trace their own route and
locate the maximum number of checkpoints with the minimum amount of mileage.
The distance traveled, the number of checkpoint beacons recovered and the
least amount of assistance required will determine Team AD OPT's final
standings.
For Chiasson and Roy, the decision to compete in this race came after a
great deal of soul searching. According to Carol Chiasson, Team AD OPT's
pilot: "In planning my sabbatical year from Collège Laflèche in Trois-
Rivières, I was looking for something that would challenge my intellect and my
social, physical and emotional skills while at the same time taking a
calculated risk. In doing the rally, my determination, my perseverance and
willpower will be put to the test. But at the same time, the rally will
provide me with the thrill of adventure."
Andrée Roy, Team AD OPT's navigator, is equally ready for the challenge:
"Above all, I am doing this rally to be in competition with myself. I want to
work with my strengths and my weaknesses in extreme conditions. This will
allow me to identify my limits but at the same time, broaden them. I like to
learn and I'm open to new projects and experiences. The desert is an unknown
element that I want to learn about."
Unlike any other team competing in this race, Team AD OPT also plans to
take part in a second kind of race and use this event to raise money for a
great cause: the race for a better quality of life for those afflicted with
Alzheimer's disease. "Getting prepared to drive 2,500 km off-road in the
desert has made us very aware of the daily challenges that have to be overcome
by people with Alzheimer's disease," said Chiasson. "All mental functions are
affected by Alzheimer's disease: personality, memory, orientation, perception,
reasoning and judgement. Competing in the Trophée Aicha des gazelles calls
upon these very same functions. We want to shed light on the cause and the
relationship between their loss and the abilities required for this
competition."
During the eight legs of the rally, Team AD OPT must locate a total of
approximately 32 checkpoints. Team AD OPT will be asking companies to pledge a
minimum of $1000 for every checkpoint beacon found. This money will be donated
directly to the Alzheimer's Society to help them find a way to provide
improved services for the people living with Alzheimer's disease and their
families. Although one or more groups or firms may decide to sponsor a
checkpoint beacon, if all beacons are sponsored at least once, Team AD OPT
will raise a minimum of $32,000 for its cause.
For more information on Carol and Andrée preparations for their extreme
adventure or their fundraising efforts, visit Team AD OPT's web site at
www.sahara2001.com
About the Trophée Aicha des gazelles
In 1991 when the Trophée Aicha des gazelles began, only nine regional
teams took part. In 2001, up to 60 teams are expected, all women between 18
and 60 years of age, and among them are lawyers, nurses, postal workers,
journalists, models, actresses, mothers, police officers as well as a teacher
and an air traffic controller. Over the past few years, the Trophée Aicha des
Gazelles has gained increased popularity in the adventurous hearts of Quebec
women. From only one team in 1996, Quebec's participation increased to 12, out
of a total of 48 teams, in 2000. Participants come from all over the world:
Italy, Palestine, Canada, France, Germany, the USA, Morocco, Spain and
Algeria.
About AD OPT
AD OPT's products, based on proprietary mathematical algorithms, serve as
workforce planning and scheduling tools that allow companies with large and
complex scheduling functions to quantify labor costs, enhance planning
capabilities, and improve quality of life for employees.
Web site :www.ad-opt.com
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