ENDOrun’s eighth edition draws record turnout for endometriosis research

Since 2018, ENDOrun has established itself as a major charity event. Created by the ENDOmind association, the race invites everyone to run against endometriosis, turning sporting effort into a statement of solidarity. The event is both a personal challenge for participants and a tangible way for their friends and families to support the cause by raising funds for research. “We’re delighted with this edition. We broke every participation record: 1,700 runners in Paris, 4,600 in Nice, Quimper, Mulhouse, Rouen and Toulouse, and therefore more than 6,300 across France in totalJuliette Ryan, president of ENDOmind, explains.

Since its creation, ENDOrun has brought together more than 30,000 runners and raised €250,000 for the Fondation pour la Recherche sur l’Endométriose, the only foundation in France dedicated exclusively to the disease. More than just a race, it is a collective movement with staying power: nearly 600 volunteers have helped the event grow.

Two races make the event accessible to everyone

In the early-morning mist, participants set off enthusiastically on the 5 km and 10 km courses, spurred on by the crowd and the driving beat of a percussion group. In the heart of Bois de Vincennes, both routes circled Lac Daumesnil: one lap for the 5 km and two for the 10 km. Accessible, certainly, but still a challenge for those who chose to treat it as one.

Héléna, who took on the 5 km, can attest to that. For her, the distance represented “a personal challenge”. Not originally much of a runner, she had been training for two years to take part in the race, drawn by a cause close to her heart. “It’s a way to push myself while supporting a cause that matters to me, despite some health limitations. My only goal was to finish, whatever the time.” Alexa approached the 10 km from a different angle, still weakened by a pain flare-up five days earlier. Setting off with her family, she was not simply aiming to finish, but to beat her personal best, set at the same event in around 44 minutes. “Meeting someone at the 4 km mark helped me stay on pace and keep going,” she says, delighted to cross the finish line in 41:44. “Goal achieved, although the most important thing is still making invisible suffering visible, because every stride is a victory.”

The 2025 edition brought a host of new features. The Centre sportif Léo Lagrange in Paris’s 12th arrondissement became the event’s new venue, providing a larger, refreshed setting. The redesigned official T-shirt symbolised strength, gentleness and solidarity, while a new medal recognised everyone’s commitment. The event village brought together healthcare partners, activities, talks and even a food truck, without ever losing sight of the main goal: advancing endometriosis research. “It’s a very mixed race, with men and women, but also a diverse range of participants, the association’s president emphasises. “Some come simply for the pleasure of running; others, who have endometriosis, come to prove to themselves that they can take part despite the disease. ”

This year, each race featured separate men’s and women’s podiums, with prizes for the top three men and top three women in both the 5 km and 10 km. “At the first edition, we had only planned trophies for the winners. Since this is a race connected to a condition that primarily affects women, it seemed essential to recognise the women as well. We’re delighted to have been able to introduce this system.”

ENDOrun Digitale: running for the cause from anywhere in the world

Every November, ENDOrun brings thousands of participants together through two complementary formats: ENDOrun Paris, held in the capital on Sunday, and ENDOrun Digitale, open to everyone, regardless of country, chosen discipline or pace. The format is designed to let people get involved in their own way. “The aim is for it to be genuinely accessible at every level, continues the organiser, delighted by the record turnout for the virtual event. That’s why we offer these two distances. During Covid, we launched the digital version and wanted to keep it afterwards as a complement to the in-person event. It allows people who would rather walk than run, or who are unable to travel, to take part in their own way.”

The SQD, short for Les Sportives qui Déchirent, are an inspiring example. This group of women from Martinique, who have been practising sport for more than 11 years, “from the occasional walker to the ultrarunner”, could not join the Paris race from the 7,000 km separating them from mainland France. ENDOrun Digitale offered them the ideal alternative.

Sandrine Gros-Desormeaux-Morjon, president of the association, explains their project: “We’ve supported the fight against endometriosis for a long time. The digital version allowed several of our members to contribute in their own way: some ran, covering up to 32 km for the most experienced, others walked 3, 4 or 5 km, and those more comfortable in the water swam. That’s how we support the cause, as we always have ”. Their commitment does not end there. Six of them are now preparing for a new challenge: Raid des Alizés, an event combining kayaking, mountain biking and trail running, driven by the same spirit of solidarity and raising funds for ENDOFrance.

© ENDOrun

© ENDOrun

© ENDOrun

A cause that deserves recognition

Thanks to the funds raised since 2018, ENDOmind has helped move research forward and bring a major project to life: the creation of the Fondation pour la Recherche sur l’Endométriose, the only organisation in France dedicated exclusively to the disease. The foundation now funds essential projects to improve understanding of endometriosis, advance diagnosis and reduce its impact, made possible by the commitment of participants and donors.

Among them is Cécile, who has had endometriosis since she was 11 and is now 35. “I’ve undergone several surgical procedures and extensive treatments… Today, my condition seriously affects the mobility of my right leg,” she says. Starting the 5 km, taking part in ENDOrun was a powerful act for her, a way to prove that she is still moving forward despite the disease. “There’s still a long way to go before endometriosis is known and recognised. It is discussed more often, but usually only in terms of infertility or period pain. It doesn’t end there. It needs to become visible… so that young girls don’t go through what we did. If this race helps people talk about it, I can only support it. ”

For the second year running, Héléna was also on the 5 km start line, this time setting a personal best, although performance was not the reason she was there. “I believe in this cause and support it. We need funding to understand the mechanisms of the disease. My generation went undiagnosed: we experienced complete medical neglect,” she says. Only now are people explaining that endometriosis does not disappear at menopause. Awareness is finally growing, and symptoms that used to be dismissed with ‘it’s all in your head’ are now being heard.”

The event’s growth “shows just how interested people are in endometriosis research,” says Juliette Ryan, delighted. That matters because this condition is extremely common, with the same prevalence rate as diabetes, yet its causes remain unknown. There is no curative treatment, and the average time to diagnosis is still ten years. Research needs to make real progress on this issue.”

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