An extraORdinary mobilization to conclude September in Gold 2024
As every year for the past 13 years, the last weekend of September is dedicated to the major charity race Enfants sans Cancer for our association. On Sunday, September 29, 2024, at the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud and remotely, from Montreal to Marseille, across all of Europe, we once again got thousands of committed runners moving to accelerate research against this scourge affecting our children.
This year, for the first time in its history, our race was fully booked! A testament, according to our president Patricia Blanc, that “more and more people are becoming aware of childhood and adolescent cancer. To be fully booked for our flagship race was unimaginable for us 13 years ago. So, with great emotion and thinking of Margo, I watched this wave of blue and pink rise up against childhood and adolescent cancer.”
With over 7,000 runners and walkers at the starting line (both on-site and remotely), Enfants sans Cancer set a new record. Thanks to their efforts, the generosity of more than 26,000 donors, and numerous partners, a remarkable check of more than 2.8 million euros was handed over to researchers.
This amount will be supplemented by funds raised during other races held the same weekend in Luxembourg, Belgium, and Spain, as well as the support of the KiKa Foundation. In total, 10.7 million euros will be allocated to pediatric cancer research through the European Fight Kids Cancer call for projects.
“Thanks to the mobilization and support of our partners, donors, and runners, we will surpass the symbolic milestone of 10 million euros donated to research in a single year. Today, we are sending a true message of hope to the thousands of families fighting this scourge. Things are ‘MOVING,’ and together, we will build a world where children no longer suffer from cancer.” – continued Patricia Blanc.
With this 13th Gold edition, we are giving all the families who, every day, stand by their little warriors in the fight for life, an additional hope for healing.
A 13th edition of Enfants sans Cancer race marked by hope
With 7,000 runners and walkers at the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud and connected from around the world, this Sunday, September 29, 2024, was filled with hope: the hope of living in a world where children live without cancer.
Bathed in morning sunshine and dew, the participants on-site began their day of solidarity at 8 a.m. with various activities, including an acrobatic rock show by the Vincennes Rock Club and Ola Rock Cachan, and a hip-hop performance by Studio 16. Then, they warmed up with our fantastic fitness coaches, Omar, Clémence, and Anaïs. This year, they were joined by Vincent Parisi, a presenter on BeIN Sports and former world jiu-jitsu champion. For about ten minutes, they got Saint-Cloud moving, preparing our kind-hearted runners for the challenge ahead.
At 9:30 a.m., participants connected from France, Germany, Morocco, and even Canada joined the live stream to follow the race and share this day dedicated to hope. Melvie, hosting the event for the third consecutive year, gave a virtual tour of the village to online participants, including visits to the tattoo booth, live chats with runners, photos, and meetings with the teams. Every effort was made to make the remote experience as immersive as being at Saint-Cloud.
Meanwhile, our host Daniel called all the runners and walkers at Saint-Cloud to the starting line. After a few safety instructions and speeches from our founders, Patricia and Olivier Blanc, participants heard messages of encouragement from Nelson Montfort, Matthieu Lartot, and Sarah Ourahmoune. Armed with her best running shoes, our race godmother joined the front line to kick off the race alongside Inoxtag, Kungs, Benjamin Moukandjo, Damien Perquis, Vianney, and Mentissa.
At 10 a.m., a guard of honor from the Republican Guard welcomed the 7,000 runners before starting the race, accompanied by DJ GuillaumGam and the Wolfpack Cheerleaders from Sorbonne.
On the course, participants enjoyed music from the Republican Guard’s marching band and numerous other activities, including Double Dutch by Grizzly Paris and the batucada Brasis. Meanwhile, remote participants took part in a Zumba class led by a coach from Justcoaching and an Afro-hip hop session by Studio 16.
After successfully completing their sports challenges, our thousands of participants, whether at Saint-Cloud or remotely, enjoyed a well-deserved stretching session. This relaxation moment was followed by an emotional collective event, where participants and public figures gathered for a special Haka, organized by Imagine for Margo and La Malle Aux Artistes.
The top fundraisers were recognized for their outstanding efforts. Vianney and Mentissa gave us the immense pleasure of performing the famous song “Imagine” by John Lennon, offering a touching tribute to all the young fighters battling illness, as well as those who now shine among the stars. Together, we were there for them and with them.
Finally, to the enthusiastic cheers and beating drums of the Republican Guard, a magnificent check for 2.8 million euros was presented to the researchers, symbolizing hope and commitment in the fight against childhood cancer.
Our charity event concluded with a fabulous concert by Vianney and Mentissa. Participants of Enfants sans Cancer danced, sang, and enjoyed this moment of togetherness after all the efforts they made throughout the year to accelerate research.
BRAVO and THANK YOU to everyone for this race of hope!
THANK YOU to ALL OF YOU, dear runners, for your INCREDIBLE mobilization and THANK YOU to all your donors. It’s thanks to you that pediatric cancer research is moving forward faster!
Thank you to all our kind-hearted partners who are covering the costs of organizing the race so that we can donate 100% of the donations collected to research:
See you in 2025 for two new editions of Enfants sans Cancer
We look forward to seeing you next year for two new editions of the Enfants sans Cancer races!
Indeed, the association will organize the 6th edition of Enfants sans Cancer City at the Parvis de Paris La Défense in the spring of 2025 (date to be announced), and the 14th edition of Enfants sans Cancer at the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud and remotely on September 28, 2025.
Whether you’re at Paris La Défense, Saint-Cloud, or connected from anywhere in France, every step counts to support research and fight childhood cancer.
Together, let’s continue to champion the children’s cause.
See you in 2025 to grow this solidarity movement and write a new chapter of hope with each edition.
See you soon at the starting line to push the boundaries of solidarity even further!
