Cn Sunday, November 24, Rochelais Youn Le Goanvic, 28, will start the 10 kilometers of the La Rochelle marathon, at 8:45 a.m., from avenue du Général-Leclerc. The pleasure of running will guide his strides after a first race, of six months this time against Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer which begins in the lymphocytes. The Aunis Athlétisme member remembers very well the day his illness was announced. It was January 12, 2024. “Everything collapsed at that moment in my head,” he says. I cried a lot the first three days. I didn't know what I had exactly but I knew it was very serious. »
In the fall of 2023, in the weeks preceding the diagnosis, the middle-distance specialist had felt severe fatigue and muscle pain, which was abnormal for him. Before the 10 km of La Rochelle finished at 5e place, he had nevertheless improved his record to 31 min 35 s in Lille over the distance. “One evening in early January, I felt a huge mass on my neck. » The starting point for all examinations leading to lymphoma screening.
The first chemotherapy takes place on January 29, 2024. “I never stopped sport,” says the Rochelais, employed at Leroy Merlin in Beaulieu – Puilboreau. I held on as best I could. What helped me get through it was first of all my surroundings. I am lucky to have an incredible family. And my club too, which is my second family, as well as my other Leroy Merlin family. I see it all as teamwork. »
His practice of athletics allowed him to keep going at a time when it was most necessary. “It was horrible because I was running on chemotherapy days. It was a bit crazy but that’s what helped me to hold on (smile). I didn't shed a single tear during my treatment and I don't even know why. I think what kept me doing well was running and being able to knock out the chemotherapy. Even if I sometimes vomited during my training (laughs). »
July 19 marked the date of his last chemo. “It was liberation,” he continues. I started running again at the beginning of August. It was short, I couldn't increase my jogging because there was still the toxicity of the chemo. What's crazy is that during a 200 meter session, I was able to repeat the same times as before. »
On October 13, Youn and his father Patrice took the start of the Pomme relay in Dompierre-sur-Mer, a 2 x 7 km relay. Symbolic obviously. “Having run as a family allowed us to mark the end of all that,” observes the Rochelais, “too happy” to return to the 10 km of the La Rochelle marathon.
Regardless of the place and the time, for him, being able to run is the most important thing. “The main thing is to come back stronger in 2025, and even better than before,” he finishes, ready to pin on new bibs.
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