Two ESCP Bachelor Students Cycle from Paris to Madrid in Support of Children’s Cardiac Surgery

After several days on the road and over 1,600 kilometres travelled, Solal Chetrit and Gabriel Salawi, two ESCP students in the Bachelor programme, arrived at the ESCP Madrid campus on June 21 to complete a remarkable challenge. Their goal was to raise €24,000 for Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque, a French NGO that funds life-saving heart surgeries for children who cannot access care in their home countries.

They reached their destination ahead of schedule and exceeded their target. It was a triumphant end to a journey that began at the ESCP Paris Campus as part of their initiative 2 Bikes 2 Hearts, a cross-border cycling effort to raise awareness and fund two life-saving surgeries for children in need.

For Salawi, the project held deep personal meaning, having undergone heart surgery as a child. “I was once a cardiac child. I had a great surgery in great conditions, so I wanted to give back.” For Chetrit, the cause also resonated through family connections to the cause. “We were both very moved by what they do and very motivated to support them.

A physically demanding but emotionally rewarding experience

“The biking part for us was totally new,” said Chetrit. Despite having no prior experience with cycling, the two students rose to the challenge, training for several months. With the support of a sponsor, they received their bikes just one month before departure and began cycling regularly to prepare for the trip.

The first day of their journey proved the most difficult. High winds, rain, and even hail made the stretch out of Paris both the longest and most exhausting. “It was difficult to manage,” recalled Chetrit. “But the good thing was that the days after were okay.”

Their spirits were also lifted by the support they received along the way—offers of water, food, and encouragement that often arrived when most needed. “We couldn’t have done it if we didn’t have the help of the people along the way,” said Salawi.

One moment stood out in particular: “In Biarritz, we met a woman selling crêpes to support a charity. We told her what we were doing, and she decided to donate some money to our cause. We didn’t expect that at all.”

From inspiration to action

Chetrit and Salawi note that the project was inspired by previous ESCP student initiatives that supported medical and social causes. “We were very touched by a few initiatives of ESCP students,” said Salawi. “So we thought we would do a challenge for ourselves.” The idea was born on campus in Madrid, and the pair committed to cycling from Paris to Madrid to support a cause that mattered to them, while symbolically connecting two of ESCP’s European campuses.

Their project was promoted under the banner @2bikes2hearts on Instagram, where they shared updates, photos, and milestones throughout the journey. The campaign gained traction, helping them raise more than 75% of their target before even reaching Spain.

After completing the final stretch into Madrid, the two students reflected on the journey and everything it had taken to reach that moment. “To be honest, it was very emotional,” said Salawi. “We’ve had this project in mind for a few years. Seeing the campus again and realising it was the end of something we’d worked on for nine months… It was also the same day we reached our goal, so it was a very emotional day.”

Beyond the finish line

With their original goal met, Chetrit and Salawi have now raised a total of €36,000—enough to fund a third surgery through Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque. The experience has also brought personal growth and realisations. “For me, I learned the notion of challenge and how important and good it is to challenge ourselves,” said Chetrit.

2 Bikes 2 Hearts is a powerful example of how ESCP students are turning values into action through initiative, resilience, and social commitment.

Donations remain open. Learn more and support 2 Bikes 2 Hearts here.