The rise of Paris Saint-Germain into a European football powerhouse has coincided with a spurt of off-the-field activities initiated by the top French club as part of its Corporate Social Responsibilty (CSR), including helping cancer patients.
18-year-old old Adrien suffers from cancer. Last week, the doctors informed that he has stopped eating and communicating.
The situation went from bad to worse when Adrien had an unlikely guest in his hospital room. It was Paris Saint Germain and Argentine star Javier Pastore sitting by his bedside. He spent time with Adrien who was on the cusp of his 18th birthday.
"The doctors then informed us that it was first time in days that Adrien had smile on his face. His situation is really bad but he is fighting. Pastore's visit was our way of showing we care," PSG Foundation director Christine Le Gal said, speaking of the club's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives that has made a difference to lives of more than 165,000 children and youth.
It is not only about the terminally ill Adrien but also another young woman, Marie, whose life changed due to PSG foundation's initiative.
"Marie was 18 and was barely educated, hailing from the sensitive north west suburb of France. She was enrolled in PSG educators (Teachers Training Programme) and is now one of our educators. We now have 200 educators who teach under-privileged children. These were unemployed youth aged between 18-24, whom we try to integrate in main society," Le Gal said.
For Le Gal, who has been associated with the project since its inception in 2000, current president Nasser Al-Khelaifi's active interest in foundation's work has been the biggest positive.
In fact PSG's decision to invest a million Euros during the refugee crisis in Europe last September was made by Al-Khelaifi.
"The president has tripled the investments. When refugee crisis happened, president asked me as to how we can carefully help the refugees so that money goes through right channels. That's when we decided to tie up with United Nations and French Secours Populaire - NGO to fund for refugees," she said.
