At 83, a retired doctor still devotes himself to those who no longer have anything, as he walks through the streets of Hauts-de-Seine (a department in the suburbs of Paris) and the French capital. Stick in one hand, medical backpack in the other, with an ever-present smile, Dr. Guy Lessieux is an Ordre de Malte France volunteer. He is one of the pioneers of the maraudes médicales, the Order’s medical patrols, created in 1998 to care for and listen to those living on the streets. In July he was awarded the Légion d’honneur for his tireless effort and example of dedication. The official ceremony will take place in mid-October.

Medical “maraudes” are instant interventions. Riding in an equipped vehicle, a doctor and a nurse, both volunteers, offer the homeless basic treatment with medicines, healthcare advice and, above all, listening and presence. “We treat wounds, but we also treat abandonment,” Dr. Lessieux likes to say. Every year, Ordre de Malte France organizes 500 of these patrols with over 4,500 consultations throughout France.

Today, Ordre de Malte France has some 14,000 volunteers, active in 102 delegations and 43 operating units. Besides the “maraudes”, the Order manages healthcare facilities, fights poverty and accompanies people with disabilities or addictions. Its work is based on a simple belief: no one is too fragile or too isolated to be reached. This is demonstrated by the actions of those who, like Guy Lessieux, continue to give their time, energy and humanity, even at the age of 83.