In 1993, Frédéric Canot became European Squash Champion for the second year running. When he ended his sporting career five years later, this stalwart of the French team (103 caps) hung up his racquets with a well decorated list of achievements including 1à national titles. But Frédéric let himself go, abandoning sport and ended up gaining… 30 kilos! He received his first shock, in the form of a heart flutter, 18 months ago. This was enough for him to take things into his own hands, get back into sport and sign up for his first marathon des sables this year. He had his second shock last September, when he accompanied his friend Pascal for dialysis. He spent two hours at the hospital finding out about his friend’s illness. Pascal explained that he had been waiting seven years for a transplant. Frédéric decided there and then that he would run in aid of organ donation and immediately set up a partnership with the Bordeaux Pellegrin CHU (University Hospital Centre). From this hospital, patients waiting for transplants will follow his race progress live. Upon his return, he will show them a film on his participation and multiply the number of conferences raising public awareness for his cause, to increase the number of donors and circulate as much information as possible on this serious problem. The marathon des sables is happy to pass on his message!