Facing Cancer: Jean-Luc, Hoel’s Father, Runs So That Other Children Can Recover
At 14, Hoel loved the mountains, science and baking. In September 2020, an Ewing sarcoma turned everything upside down. Hoel passed away in August 2022. Today, his father, Jean-Luc Célérié-Mangin, 54, runs, raises awareness and keeps his memory alive through the Marie Notre Étoile association, a partner of Imagine for Margo. His fight is to advance research so that, one day, no child will be taken from their family by cancer.
“Everything Was Fine”: The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
Hoel was 14 years old. He had started complaining of mild stomach pain, mainly at night. At first, there seemed to be no cause for concern. But when the family sought medical advice after the summer holidays, in September 2020, the verdict was devastating: it was serious.
Hoel was quickly referred to Institut Curie, where he was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma. The standard treatment protocol followed: chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy. It was expected to last around a year and lead to recovery. However, Hoel already had metastases and, for this type of childhood cancer, there is still no treatment truly suited to this situation.
The family then tried other treatment protocols, including more innovative options. Some gave Hoel genuine periods of respite: a skiing holiday, a week-long trip and precious moments with his family. Eventually, however, the side effects became more severe than the benefits. Treatment was stopped. Hoel passed away in August 2022.
Mont Blanc: A Family Dream Fulfilled
Before his illness, Hoel shared a passion for the mountains with his father and his godfather. Three months before his diagnosis, they had climbed Mont Blanc du Tacul together, their first mountaineering summit. Mont Blanc was meant to be the next step.
During Hoel’s illness, the French charity Rêves made something extraordinary possible: a family helicopter flight over Mont Blanc. In the photograph, Hoel’s smile says it all.
“To have fulfilled a dream in some way was wonderful. And to experience it as a family was exceptional. It is an unforgettable memory that no one can ever take away from us.”
One year after Hoel’s passing, Jean-Luc climbed to the summit of Mont Blanc with his son’s godfather. It was an ascent filled with mixed emotions: Hoel’s physical absence, and at the same time the certainty that he was there with them.
“That ascent helped me move towards something more positive and begin to rebuild myself, a little like Notre-Dame, which took its time, which could have remained in ruins, and which is now standing once again. We still have all our cracks, but we are here, and we are moving forward.”
Running for Hope: Discovering Imagine for Margo
Jean-Luc had been running for many years, once or twice a week, and had already completed several half-marathons and marathons. But he ran for himself, for the personal challenge. Hoel’s illness changed everything.
It was during his son’s fight that he discovered Imagine for Margo, which brought him “an enormous glimmer of hope”. The charity funds research, brings together leading scientific teams in France and across Europe, and organises fundraising races. His first major fundraising event was Institut Curie’s Course de la Jonquille in March 2022, which he completed as a marathon.
A few weeks later, he took part in the Children Without Cancer race for the first time. The emotional impact was overwhelming.
“That was when I was truly running for hope, for my son. Children Without Cancer is a magical race. There is a powerful sense of unity around the cause: the runners, the families, the children who are fighting, the memory of our children who have become stars. And the researchers are there too, and they leave feeling re-energised. It is incredibly powerful.”
€25,000 Raised = Six Months of Research Funded
After Hoel passed away, his family launched a fundraiser for Institut Curie. Thanks to the generosity of relatives, friends and colleagues, €25,000 was raised and donated to the research teams.
By speaking with Hoel’s oncologist, Jean-Luc understood what this amount represented in practical terms: six months of funding for one researcher. It was a revelation.
“We realised that it was real, that it had a tangible impact. We also discovered that researchers have to wear two hats: that of a scientist and that of a team leader. They have to find funding and complete applications, sometimes at the expense of the research itself. Imagine for Margo has the ability to break down barriers and simplify what is complex, so that progress can be accelerated.”
Marie Notre Étoile: Becoming a “Booster” for Imagine for Margo
This year, Jean-Luc strengthened his commitment by joining the Marie Notre Étoile association, which brings together around fifteen active volunteers, mainly in the Paris region, particularly in Hauts-de-Seine and Yvelines, but also beyond.
“Imagine for Margo is the main rocket. It knows where it is going and provides the framework, scientific excellence and responsible use of funds. At our level, Marie Notre Étoile acts as a booster, and an important one. We work with local authorities and companies, take part in events and organise our own. Our aim is to raise awareness and funds for research.”
In 2024, Jean-Luc set himself a special challenge: running the 10K Marathon Pour Tous during the Olympic Games. On his cap, alongside Hoel’s name, were the names of other children: those who had recovered, those still fighting and those who had become stars.
“Children are our future. And what could be more important than taking care of our future?”
Childhood Cancer: Why Research Needs Your Support
Jean-Luc’s testimony highlights a reality that remains far too little known. Childhood cancers continue to receive insufficient media attention, even though they are a major public health and societal issue.
A few figures help explain the scale of the challenge:
Every year, 2,500 children and teenagers are diagnosed with cancer in France.
Across Europe, 30,000 children are affected.
There are between 80 and 100 different types of childhood cancer. These are therefore rare and specific diseases that require dedicated research.
Today, the overall survival rate is around 80%. This is encouraging, but it also means that one child in five does not survive.
For many years, children with cancer were treated with chemotherapy developed for adults. However, as Jean-Luc points out, childhood cancers are fundamentally different from adult cancers. They occur very early in life, in young and developing cells, and require treatments designed specifically for children.
Today, public funding for childhood cancer research in France remains limited. Civil society therefore has a crucial role to play in increasing the scale of research. Imagine for Margo, together with its European partners involved in Fight Kids Cancer, funds major Europe-wide research programmes. But research needs to move faster: children cannot put their lives on hold while science progresses.
Go, Fight, Win: Taking Action for a World Without Childhood Cancer
When asked what Margaux’s message — Go, Fight, Win — means to him, Jean-Luc answers without hesitation.
“Go means taking action and responding. Fight means having the courage to face something that will not be easy, and finding within yourself and among those around you the solutions and support you need. Win is the final outcome: changing things. It is a universal message.”
For anyone who is hesitant about getting involved, his message is clear: everyone can make a difference in their own way.
How You Can Take Action with Imagine for Margo
Make a donation, as an individual or a company, to directly fund childhood cancer research.
Take part in fundraising races, particularly Children Without Cancer, to raise funds while sharing a powerful moment of unity with families, researchers and children.
Raise awareness among your friends, family, colleagues and online communities, so that childhood cancer finally becomes a cause that is fully understood by everyone.
Jean-Luc also has one final message for families facing childhood cancer:
“Do not be afraid to seek support. At the beginning, you are so overwhelmed by the storm that accepting or asking for help is not easy. But there are charities that can support you, alongside your family and friends. Do not hesitate.”
Hoel loved life, curiosity and the mountains. His fighting spirit now accompanies every stride his father takes. By supporting Imagine for Margo, you become part of this collective force that advances research, accelerates discoveries and opens the way towards recovery for thousands of children.
→ Register for Children Without Cancer
→ Join the Imagine for Margo community
Article written by Maxime Roques, Communications Manager at Imagine for Margo.