24 Hours to Fight Cancer: Théo Gabeau Takes on a Crazy Challenge for Foulées d’Espoir

With a degree in sports science, Amiens native Théo Gabeau pulled off an extraordinary feat this weekend at La Hotoie Park in Amiens. To help fight cancer, he challenged himself to run for 24 hours straight. Challenge completed: the student pushed through to cover 146 km, cheered on by his loved ones and a handful of curious spectators.

“I’ve got some slightly crazy people around me. And I think they help me go beyond what I’m physically capable of,” smiles the 21-year-old, who has taken on several sporting challenges over the past three years: a first 55 km ultra, an Ironman, the 100 km de la Somme and now this 24-hour run, organised in partnership with the city of Amiens and Relay For Life, a nationwide festival of sport and solidarity against cancer.

His impressive performances would not mean the same without the invaluable support of everyone who stands by him during these moments. “Something exceptional happened on 31 August: all my loved ones were there. My parents, my friends… From 8 a.m., even though it was cold and the day looked difficult, around fifteen friends were waiting for me as I came out of the water. I thought they would only come back for the finish after 180 km on the bike… But no: they followed me throughout the course, stopping every 10 km to encourage me, clap and then head further along. They did that for the whole race.” And above all, those performances would mean little without the project behind them.

Every event is tied to fundraising for a cause. An Ironman raising money for L’Envol, which supports seriously ill children; 100 km to raise awareness of breast cancer; and now 24 hours of running for the League Against Cancer, through Foulées d’Espoir, the association Théo founded in March 2025.

How Foulées d’Espoir came to life

After running in support of causes bigger than himself, Théo wanted to turn his personal commitment into a collective adventure. A few months before Foulées d’Espoir was founded, its current vice-president, Théo Monteiro, suggested he “tie it to something people would remember: a colour, a symbol, a logo.” That was when the project began to grow, drawing in more of Théo’s friends. The committee now brings together a range of backgrounds, all “highly motivated to use sport to do some good around us”: a bank employee, an orthotist, a physiotherapist and two sports science students.

To make an impression from the outset, they came up with the idea of a run-bike from Amiens to Haudivillers, where Théo’s parents live, to collect the association’s official paperwork. “We wanted to show our own style: a little crazy, but in a serious field. It was important for people to see that you can keep things simple and have fun, even when you’re doing things that really matter to you,” Théo explained. Their first event took place on 28 May, alongside the national day dedicated to the fight against multiple sclerosis. Through a Strava club where they explained the idea of covering as many kilometres as possible in 24 hours, they brought together numerous people, with and without disabilities, to run or walk. Together, they covered a total of 2,295 kilometres.

After that first project, “the little Foulées d’Espoir family really started to put down roots.” Some people were already eager for the next project, while the core team was on standby preparing for the coming 24-hour challenge. When it was announced, the reaction was immediate: “The first thing people asked was: ‘Can we come? Can we run with you?’.” Théo seems to have found his way to make a difference through sport, a powerful force for social connection: “The great thing about sport is that it brings people together around one thing: the project.” A commitment that answers a deep-seated need, no doubt shaped by his personal history: his mother, a former marathon runner, was diagnosed with breast cancer when he was not yet ten.

A succession of challenges leading to 24 hours

The leap from running 55 km alone to racing non-stop for 24 hours is immense, both physically and mentally. Looking back on the 100 km de la Somme last November, Théo recalls: “I clearly think I went looking for the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I wasn’t prepared, and I was still extremely tired from the Ironman because there was only a month and twelve days between them.” He still completed the distance in 11:54, feeling “over the moon.” Yet that was only one step in a succession of increasingly insane challenges.

After his 24 hours, he reflected on what had let him down: “My psoas was so tight that even massaging it couldn’t get it to relax. I also had some minor problems around my malleolus. I gritted my teeth a bit and prayed it would hold.” He also knows that his preparation, limited to 15 weeks with Heubi, the former 100 km world champion turned online coach, played a part. The demanding schedule he had set himself, and which was difficult to maintain in the middle of summer, was not necessarily beneficial. “Unfortunately, I can’t start my training plans until the end of May. I was generally running 40 km a week, when I should have been doing 80. It was the first time I’d followed a proper training plan, and honestly, it was hard. I have enormous respect for people who train at that level all year round.” As if that were not enough, he spent the final week juggling a series of commitments to promote the event. “When it came to sleep, I was nowhere near where I needed to be. I was completely wiped out. I was rushing around promoting the challenge, which I enjoy. I’m not complaining, because it tires me out, but it gives me such a boost that it’s incredible,” said the president of Foulées d’Espoir.

With his legs now heavy from the effort and the immediate distress behind him, he can finally feel proud of what he achieved. Even before the eagerly awaited weekend, the online fundraiser and shirt sales had already raised several hundred euros. “When I went over the figures again this morning, with a clear head, I couldn’t have hoped for anything better,” Théo said on Monday afternoon. More than €1,000 had been raised, with the total expected to climb further after his triumphant finish on Sunday evening.

Remember the name Théo Gabeau, and the name of his association, Foulées d’Espoir. This committed athlete has no intention of stopping in the Amiens area, or even in the Somme. He is already looking further ahead, supported by his loved ones and friends, without whom his journey would not have the same intensity. With every challenge, he finds that unique blend of pushing his limits and the emotions that come from sporting effort devoted to a cause close to his heart.