At the age of twenty, during his business studies, Laurent de Cherisey was affected by a car accident, which left his sister severely disabled. He then decided to carry out a cooperation in the Ivory Coast. Upon his return to France he became involved in several social projects – rehabilitation company with a network of second-hand stores, Reporters of Hope, a mutual support group for people disabled by head trauma… After a world tour in 2005-2006 with his wife Marie-Hélène and their five children, he founded the Simon de Cyrène association, which enables people with disabilities to live in flats with professional social workers and young volunteers.