Time to give more than gold

Catherine Marquet stands in the derelict maison

We think we should eat less chocolate, quit smoking or spend less on clothes. Sometimes we forget, in the midst of self-improvement, that one way to improve life for ourselves is by doing things for others.

There are, of course, people for whom charity has nothing to do with Christmas, individuals who are driven by their desire to make a difference. Our world is shaped by the actions of those who are committed to taking action.

Noble fight against cancer

Descended from Scottish nobility, Lord Michael Anders-Cavendish is someone who uses his fortunate position to help other people. For many years, he has been dedicated to helping A.V.E.C (Association pour la Vie Espoir contre le Cancer).

Top oncologist Professor David Khayat set up A.V.E.C in 1997 to unite nations in the fight against cancer. Since 2000 he has been persuading world leaders to sign the Charte de Paris, which commits them to working towards the same goals. So far 15 nations have signed, including France and Monaco, the latter doing so last December.

To mark the one-year anniversary of the signing, HSH Prince Albert II hosted a gala earlier this month in a bid to raise money and awareness.

Adding glitz and glamour

This is where Lord Cavendish steps in. "I am not a doctor," he explains, "but I am good at bringing people together. I'm well practised at organising events and I have contacts." He happily admits to bringing a glitz and glamour to the cause that is appealing, it encourages donations and charities desperately need funds.

Lord Cavendish points out that, "a lot of people don't have access to information and don't know about new treatments." This is why he suggested A.V.E.C not only hold a gala in Monaco this year but also a free conference with a panel of experts, including Khayat, taking questions from the floor in an open debate.

The Paris-based Lord is so committed that he spends many months on these events. "I do it with pleasure," he says, "because everybody can fall ill one day and we can all do something to help."

Building a home using bare hands

"If I had connections, believe me, I would use them. It’s hard when all you have are your bare hands." Catherine Marquet shrugs and sips her tea. Like Lord Cavendish, Marquet is devoted to helping people in difficult situations. However, as she prepares meals for the evening's soup run she couldn't be further from a gala dinner.

Several years ago, Marquet closed down her psychotherapy practice to dedicate her life to helping the desperate and the poor. In 2002 she founded with eight nuns from Vietnam, Association Notre-Dame de la Paix, to help the homeless, and especially women. "I noticed there were a lot of charities for men but nothing for women, even though they are often the victims of assault and rape.

Renovation funds

Two years ago, Marquet was given a derelict building in Nice's old town by the city authorities; her dream is to provide security, shelter, and, most importantly, rehabilitation so that these cases never sleep rough again. "These women are often homeless due to horrific circumstances,” she explains, “they are abused by partners or abandoned by parents. Out on the streets, they fall into a vicious cycle. This is what we must break. Taking a personal approach is a way to do this."

The daughter of a diplomat, Marquet was exposed to extreme poverty in developing countries from an early age. "I learnt that the only reason to bend down was to pick somebody else up," she says. However, working at this end of the poverty spectrum is not easy. The building has the capacity to house 15 women in separate bedrooms but Marquet desperately needs funds. "It's such a waste when it could provide so much good; for the women and for the whole community."

Volunteers welcome

The Maison du Cœur welcomes volunteers who can prepare and distribute meals or renovate the building. There are already a number of people of different nationalities who regularly help with the food run (which purposefully fills gaps in the calendar when the other soup kitchens close down, on New Years Day for example or in summer).

"At this time of year," Marquet says, "it's important to speak of hope, of what can be done. There is the potential in every human to help and small acts make a difference." This may be a cliché but that’s only because it contains truth: if each person made a resolution this New Years to take positive action - whether in our homes, businesses or communities - our world would take a new shape.

Maison du Cœur, Vieux Nice
Tel: +33 (0)4 93 52 31 24

Hannah Marshall