Energy, emotions, and commitment were the highlights of the 6th edition of the Enfants sans Cancer City race at Paris La Défense! On May 27, 2025, 1,900 runners and walkers, accompanied by committed personalities, united their forces on the esplanade of Paris La Défense to advance research against pediatric cancers. In total, €400,395 was raised against this scourge. Here’s a look back at an extraordinary day of solidarity, marked by generosity, celebration, and beautiful collective victories.
An beautiful Morning
This exceptional day was marked by strong mobilization from Europe’s leading business district. From the opening of the village at 11 a.m., the atmosphere was electric. Tattoos, photo booths, instacalls, a solidarity artwork with artist Nacks, and various animations set the tone for this day of solidarity. On stage, cheerleaders kicked off the festivities, followed by a breakdance battle that electrified the crowd.
Before the start, participants took part in a dynamic warm-up session led by the sports coaches from Just Coaching. This collective moment was essential to wake up the muscles, boost energy, align heartbeats, and create a beautiful synergy among participants before heading to the starting line.
A Sporty and Solidarity Lunch Break in Blue and Pink
After a speech by Olivier Blanc, the race organizer, and safety instructions from our partner Playground, 1,900 runners and walkers set off in front of the guard of honor of our sponsor, the Garde Républicaine. Over 5 or 10 kilometers, they accelerated the fight against the leading cause of death by disease among children in France and Europe. For an hour, the blue and pink t-shirts of the association colored the alleys of the Paris La Défense esplanade.
They were encouraged by multiple surprises along the route. Fanfare, beatboxer, drums from the Garde Républicaine—everything was planned to motivate the solidarity strides of our participants. The highlight of this route was an immersive experience in Paris La Défense Arena! This was punctuated by performances from DJ AAZAR, spectacular acrobatics from the cheerleaders, and light shows—creating a festive atmosphere that left a lasting impression.
In total, more than 13,000 kilometers were covered to fight childhood cancer, equivalent to nearly two laps around France.
Moments of Emotion and Recognition
The day continued with the awarding of prizes for the best fundraisers, an opportunity to salute the remarkable commitment of the participants and to listen to the inspiring words of Professor Gilles Vassal from Gustave Roussy.
Finally, the president and founder of the association, Patricia Blanc, closed the ceremony with a message full of hope and gratitude, followed by a symbolic moment: a butterfly tifo in memory of the children who left too soon and in support of those who fight every day.
This moment concluded with the traditional collective clapping and the presentation of the check to the association. Thanks to the mobilization of the 1,900 big-hearted runners and walkers, including 60 committed companies, 17 partners, and more than 180 volunteers, a check for €400,395 was unveiled. This will notably fund a study conducted by Gustave Roussy to improve a promising treatment for neuroblastomas, a particularly difficult-to-treat type of pediatric cancer, with the aim of preserving the quality of life of young patients.
Committed Personalities Present
Under the benevolent gaze of Yoann Huget, the race’s sponsor and former international rugby player, many personalities joined the participants to carry the message of hope from the association: Go, Fight, Win!
Among them were DJ Aazar, Matthias Dandois (BMX champion), Axel Clerget (judoka), Trésor Makunda (Paralympic athlete), Bastien de Changy (chef), Jocelin Pierre-Louis (content creator), Valentin Chevalier (radio host), Édouard Hausseguy (CEO of Gruppomimo), and Benjamin Royer (influencer).
100% of Funds Collected Allocated to Research Against Pediatric Cancers
This year, the funds raised during the Enfants sans Cancer City race will be entirely allocated to research, particularly to a study conducted by Gustave Roussy, dedicated to neuroblastomas, one of the most common pediatric cancers in children under 5 years old. This type of cancer, which affects the sympathetic nervous system, remains very difficult to treat in its most aggressive forms.
Thanks to this program, researchers will be able to deepen their understanding of the mechanisms of resistance to treatments and develop new, more targeted therapies to give better chances of recovery to affected children.
“Every donation is an additional glimmer of hope for children and their families. This project is a promise for the future.” – Patricia Blanc, founder of the Imagine for Margo association.
As with every edition, 100% of the donations collected by the association are allocated to research, thanks to the generosity and commitment of our precious partners who cover the organizational costs of the race.
Thank You All for This Magnificent Wave of Solidarity!
A big THANK YOU to all of you—participants, volunteers, partners—who made this day a powerful moment, filled with energy, emotion, and solidarity.
Your mobilization makes all the difference: thanks to you, research advances and hope grows for all children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer.
Every stride, every smile, every donation contributes to building a better world, a world with children without cancer. Together, we have shown that collective mobilization can move mountains.
And it’s not over!
We invite you to join us on Sunday, September 28, 2025, for the 14th edition of the Enfants sans Cancer race in the magnificent park of Saint-Cloud and online.
Another opportunity to run, walk, vibrate, and, above all, act for a cause that unites us all.
Register, spread the word, and let’s continue to grow hope, step by step.
GO, FIGHT, WIN!