“From Rennes to Istanbul by bike against cancer”

It’s been two months since you left Rennes. Where are you today, June 6?

I am in Hungary and getting ready to cross the Croatian border. I would have liked to get there a little earlier but the heat slowed me down. To catch up, I’m trying to lengthen certain steps. In general, I do 70 to 80 km per day. I will continue as long as I can, for as long as possible. My goal is always to arrive in Istanbul, even if it means changing the route* .

Why Istanbul?

When I started thinking about a big bike trip that could mobilize public opinion, I had the idea of ​​a long diagonal route through several countries. I was beginning to plan my itinerary when, in 2025, I had to receive new treatments which delayed this trip by almost ten months. This delay allowed me to further explore the project. I decided to do this journey for the Association for Brain Tumor Research (ARTC), with fundraising and posts on social media. And finally, Istanbul won. There is a somewhat mystical dimension to going to the border between two continents.

Can you say more about this cause you are cycling for?

The ARTC was founded in 1992 by families of patients and the medical team at Salpêtrière hospital in Paris. It is the first association dedicated to brain cancers in France. There are around a hundred different forms of brain tumors, which remain relatively poorly understood, much less than other cancers. When I joined the association, in 2023, it was having difficulty publicizing its actions. So, with other young people, we redesigned the website to renew communication. Two years later, during a new phase of treatment, I began to imagine this great crossing to Türkiye. By traveling, I raise money to contribute to brain tumor research. I am impressed by the generosity of people! We have already exceeded our initial goal, which was 15,000 euros. We are at 20,000 euros and aiming for 25,000.

How are your stages chosen?

I don’t draw a straight line. I planned my trip based on the meetings I could meet. To raise awareness about brain tumors, I interview caregivers, doctors and neuro-oncology researchers in each country I pass through. I post the videos on social networks from my trip. I went to Paris, Lyon, Geneva, then Austria, Hungary… It was only in the Czech Republic that I failed to meet a specialist. But I have meetings in Montenegro, North Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece, and finally in Türkiye. I also take my itinerary through places that I want to discover.

Are you staying with a local?

Yes. I had to sleep five or six nights in a hotel, but otherwise, I was hosted by individuals who I found thanks to an application for cycle tourists. People offer an overnight stay there with an evening meal and breakfast. Most of the time they give me a room. So far, I’ve only slept in a tent once, but the further south I go, the more users of the application risk becoming rare. I expect to pitch my tent more often.

You’ve been cycling for a little over two months. What stands out to you in this adventure?

Meetings! So many people have helped me in one way or another. For example, this gentleman who repaired the kickstand on my bike that I had broken. We went to his house to make a new one out of wood. And of course I also think of all the people who welcome me. Some people open their home to a stranger for the first time: it’s super touching! It’s not always easy to communicate in English, so sometimes the teenagers in the family are called upon to help. At each stage, I discover the food of the country. Accommodation is completely free, even if, in return, I try to offer them a small gift bought on the way: a pot of jam, bread… In the morning, some of my hosts took their bikes to go for a bit of the road with me. I passed through some fairly poor regions and to experience this welcome is powerful. Another thing that strikes me is the number of people I meet – between a quarter and a third – who have a loved one affected by cancer. This creates very intense moments of sharing. I have often been greeted by believers and had many spiritual conversations. This is very good for me, because it helps me check that I am not making mistakes in my life choices.

Does this trip meet the expectations you had before setting out?

It’s very different from what I expected! I had a certain habit of walking. The bike obviously allows you to cover a lot more distance per day and carry more equipment, since I have an electric cargo bike that was loaned to me by a company. But the hardest part is the loneliness on the road. On walking pilgrimages, we meet people with whom we can walk. Today, I am not riding a marked route. I sometimes meet a cycle tourist, but we ride together for one stage, no more.

And your goals? Would you say you have achieved them?

Beyond the path, of which I have already completed a good half – 3,500 kilometers –, I have three objectives. The first is to raise funds with the ARTC for research into brain cancer. The second is to raise awareness about brain tumors. You could say I made these two. The third is to experience a challenge that allows me to discover others and learn a little more about myself. As I have already experienced in my previous trips on foot, notably the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela which I carried out four years ago. The generosity and welcome of people are incredible! I am deeply marked by these meetings. Does this make me change? Move forward ? I think we only realize it after the fact: it’s not easy to see it and understand it when we’re in it.

What can we wish you for the future?

A new treatment that cures all cancers! I don’t know if I’ll see it but I think it’s possible to find one. More immediately, you can wish me to continue to tolerate my treatments well. To make other trips with encounters that never leave me indifferent. What I am experiencing is incredible!

* Raphaël has, since this interview, suspended his trip to Sarajevo, in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in order to regain his strength. He has nearly 1,500 km to go. We wish him enough rest during these summer months to be able to complete his project.