Thursday, 3 September 2026

80. Récapitulatif des dons - Update on donations

Madame, Monsieur, Très Chers Amis,

Bonjour,

A l’occasion de notre commémoration de la semaine prochaine sur Larressore ( passage de l’intérieur de 1943 à 1944 ) nous souhaitons vous informer de la situation financière de notre projet de rénovation et de réhabilitation de la bergerie Mandochenekoborda située dans ce village.

Côté investissement notre association a réglé sur ses propres fonds 18.000 € de frais de Notaire et d’expertise du Géomètre.

Madame Isabelle Joly Architecte du Patrimoine, nous a rendu son dossier que vous pouvez lire ici.

*Ajout: Nous venons de recevoir des services de l’urbanisme de la Communauté d’Agglomération du Pays-Basque, l’autorisation d’effectuer les travaux. Les plans de la bergerie réalisés par notre Architecte son donc bien en conformité. 

Le montant des travaux est donc évalué à 140.000 €. 

Nous en sommes actuellement à la consultation des entreprises principalement pour la maçonnerie et la charpente.

Or, nous avons " récolté " la somme de 20.045 € de dons à ce jour, et tout d’abord nous tenons à remercier infiniment les donateurs pour leur geste du cœur. 

Mais compte tenu du montant restant nous voici dans l’obligation aujourd'hui à nouveau de solliciter de nouveaux gestes. 

Nous avons mis en place une journée pédagogique / historique en partenariat avec la Mairie de Larressore. Nous accueillons de tout  le Pays-Basque des classes d’élèves qui sur la base de la Bande Dessinée du réseau Comète marche sur la bergerie par le même sentier qu’utilisait les passeurs et les aviateurs. 

L’après - midi Marko le dessinateur vient répondre à toutes les questions des élèves. Notre équipe explique aussi l’histoire de ce passage....

42 interventions en milieu scolaire et associatif,  dont une vingtaine a Larressore, se sont déroulés depuis la création de la bande dessinée. 

Vous comprenez donc bien l’intérêt capital que représente cette rénovation d’où notre appel à l’aide.

Au service des générations futures, merci infiniment pour votre précieux soutien à notre travail de Devoir de Mémoire.

Un geste exceptionnel

En vue d’une exposition permanente, Henri Breuillé propriétaire du musée du vélo à Cambo Les Bains, a décidé de nous faire don de 7 vélos de la période de la  Seconde Guerre Mondiale...

'Max' Roger et Tante Go avec 2 aviateurs 

Nous les réceptionnerons le jour de l’Inauguration de la bergerie.

Croyez bien Cher Monsieur et Chère Madame à ma plus haute considération,

Dominique AGUERRE,

Président des Amis du réseau Comète.

======================

Dear friends,

Hello everyone,

As we prepare for next week’s commemoration in Larressore, marking the passage from the interior during 1943–1944, we wanted to share an important update about our project to restore and preserve the sheep barn known as Mandocheneko borda.

This small building played a vital role in a remarkable chapter of our history. It was the last  Comète 'safe' house in France where 128 evaders (including 111 Allied airmen) rested before tackling a night crossing of the Pyrenees to safety.

We are determined to preserve this place so that its story can continue to be told to future generations.

Where we are today

Our association has already invested €18,000 of its own funds to cover the notary fees and the surveyor’s expert assessment.

Isabelle Joly, an architect specialising in heritage buildings, has now completed her report, which you can read here

The cost of the work is therefore estimated at €140,000.

* Edited to add: We have just received authorisation to carry out the work from the Urban Planning Department of the Pays Basque Agglomeration Community. The plans for the sheep barn, prepared by our architect, are therefore fully compliant.

We are currently consulting companies for the restoration work, particularly the masonry and roof framework.

So far, thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, we have raised €20,045 in donations.

To every person who has contributed, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your generosity is helping us turn this project into a reality.

But we still have a very long way to go.

With more than €100,000 still needed to complete the restoration, we are once again reaching out and asking for your help.

Every donation, whatever the amount, will make a real difference.

Why this place matters

This project is not simply about restoring an old building. It is about preserving the memory of the people who risked their lives to help others during one of the darkest periods in our history.

Together with the Larressore Town Hall, we have created an educational and historical day for schoolchildren. Classes come from across the Basque Country and, using the Comète network comic book as their guide, walk to the sheep barn along the same path at that used by the Comète guides and Allied airmen to cross the border.

In the afternoon, Marko, the comic book artist, joins us to answer the children’s questions, while our team brings the story of this extraordinary crossing to life.

Since the comic book was created, we have held 42 sessions in schools and community organisations, around twenty of them in Larressore itself.

The response from the children has been extraordinary.

That is why we believe this restoration is so important. We have a responsibility to make sure this memory does not disappear.

A very special gift

We have also recently received an incredibly generous offer from Henri Breuillé, owner of the Bicycle Museum in Cambo-les-Bains.

'Max' Roger and Tante Go with two evading airmen
With a permanent exhibition in mind, Henri has decided to donate seven bicycles dating from the Second World War to the project.

These bicycles will be handed over to us on the day the restored sheep barn is officially inaugurated.

It will be a very special moment — and one that we hope will mark the beginning of a new chapter for this place.

We need your help

The restoration can only happen with the support of people who believe, as we do, that remembering matters.

If you are able to make a donation, however large or small, you will be helping us preserve this unique place and pass its story on to the generations who come after us.

Please help us give Mandochenekoborda a future.

Thank you, sincerely, for your generosity, your encouragement and your support for this important work of remembrance.

With our warmest regards,

Dominique AGUERRE

President

Friends of the Comète Network

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