"A personal challenge": transplanted lungs, Alexandre Allain will run the Paris marathon

Axel May, edited by Antoine Terrel 8:30 am, October 17, 2021

TESTIMONY

More than two years after its last edition, canceled twice because of the coronavirus epidemic, the Paris marathon is making a comeback. Between 30,000 and 35,000 participants are expected. And as in every edition, the race will be the scene of great stories and impressive personal challenges, like that of Alexandre Allain. Suffering from cystic fibrosis, the young man has undergone a transplant of both lungs and is about to participate in his first marathon. A story he tells in a book published last month:

. 

"I am 25 years old. Two years after my birth, the doctors announce to my parents that I have cystic fibrosis", explains Alexandre Allain.

Affected by this incurable genetic disease, he benefited from a double lung transplant in 2017. A man of challenge and already the author of a sailing crossing of the Atlantic after his operation, he tackled the marathon this time.

"I want to send messages of hope"

"It's a personal challenge, but at the same time, it's a collective adventure and I want to send messages of hope about this marathon and raise awareness of organ donation", he explains on Europe 1, refuting any risk-taking. "No, it is not unconscious", he assures, "the sport is encouraged after the transplant". Of course, he admits, "preparing for a marathon may be pushing the sport to the extreme. But I have gained 10% of breathing capacity since I started preparing for the marathon, and I don't expect to have pain in my lungs. I have never had pain in my lungs since I had a transplant. " And to conclude: "These lungs there, they work very well with me and I will take them to the finish line".

Alexandre Allain hopes to finish the event in around 4h30.

And among the mass of competitors at the start, there will be his surgeon, the one who operated on him and who is also participating in his first marathon.