Saving lives by tackling the leading cause of death for women

Your Foundation's mission is to act in the service of a more equitable society. These values, shared with Agir pour le Cœur des Femmes, are an explanation for your support?

It's fundamental for me, as I've never recognized myself in a society that would only value profit for companies and consumption for citizens, as the only end sought.

Social and cultural awareness must be one of the major elements in the life of a successful entrepreneur, which is why, as soon as my group Fimalac was founded in 1991, I decided to get involved in the fight against all forms of exclusion from which far too many of our fellow citizens suffer. We have done this notably in the employment sector, in favor of young people from disadvantaged neighborhoods with the Fondation Agir Contre l'Exclusion, for the return to working life of women over 45 with Force Femmes, and since 2006, for access to culture for young people from modest backgrounds with the Fondation Culture & Diversité.

And because health is a precious commodity, my family and I decided to join forces with the Fondation Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière, by committing ourselves to ensuring that everyone has access to healthcare and an appropriate healthcare pathway. Indeed, since mental and physical health problems are often compounded by economic and social difficulties, acting for equal access to care and well-being for the most vulnerable also means acting for greater equality of opportunity.


Is your desire to reduce the inequality of care between women and men in cardiovascular disease another explanation for your commitment?

When Claire Mounier-Vehier and Thierry Drilhon came to talk to me about the Women's Heart Bus, I was flabbergasted by the figures: 200 women dying every day from cardiovascular disease, when in 8 out of 10 cases this could be avoided with proper screening! It's hard not to get involved when you're offered the chance to save lives by tackling the leading cause of death for women!


You are a founding member of the Women's Heart Bus. How have you experienced its development since its launch three years ago?

In a country where public hospitals are in crisis and there's constant talk of medical desertification, what better way than to enable the Bus du Cœur des Femmes to get off the ground, extend its action throughout France and increase it tenfold. In our country, where prevention and screening are the great neglects of public health policies, it is our duty to act to fill this gap.

Three years ago, the Bus set out on the roads of France, with the ambition of saving 10,000 women in five years, but since then, what a success! Indeed, with over 12,000 women already screened, I can only congratulate myself on having involved my Foundation from the very beginning of the operation. These first three years confirm the objectives we set ourselves with Claire and Thierry, that women should no longer die because of the unacceptable inequality of care in France.


How did you react to the destruction of the Women's Heart Bus during the urban violence of June 2023?

Like everyone else, I was revolted and stunned by the news of the Bus's fire, just as revolting and incomprehensible as all the gratuitous damage committed to facilities serving the common good. But nothing can stop the Women's Heart Bus, not even a fire! And the tremendous outpouring of solidarity and the mobilization of Bus volunteers to resume screening the day after these events are formidable proof of this.


After the Women's Heart Bus fire, you were keen to finance the Mobile Medical Home, which now completes the scheme...

As a founding member of the Women's Heart Bus, I was keen for the Foundation to help the Bus get a facelift and get back on the road as soon as possible, which is why the Fondation Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière financed the entire Mobile Medical Home, which now offers women and volunteers better reception and working conditions on each of the stages.


What are the prospects for your commitment to the fight against cardiovascular disease in women?

While the first objectives were quickly and largely exceeded, our commitment alongside Agir pour le Coeur des Femmes is for the long term and intends to support the development of its actions to save even more lives and continue the fight against inequalities.

So this year, in addition to the Bus, we have also supported the launch of the Women's Heart Day scheme, which complements the Bus to meet the growing demand from towns and cities for large-scale prevention initiatives.


Do you have a message for the 12,000 women who have already benefited from free cardiovascular and gynaecological screening thanks to the Women's Heart Bus?

First and foremost, to continue taking care of themselves, as they did when they decided to go all the way to the Bus to get screened, and to follow the advice and recommendations they received there. Next, I'd like to take up one of the pillars of the operation, reminding you that we must all be, as Claire says, "hummingbirds", i.e. relays of prevention, each at our own level. All the women who have already passed through the Bus also have this role to play with other women, it's a virtuous chain.