“Transforming drama into momentum for mental health”

Almost a year ago, Lorène, a second year high school student in a private establishment in Nantes (Loire-Atlantique), died from 57 stab wounds from a classmate. Terrible anniversary, which adds to the ambient unease, in particular that of the new generations, amplified by current events where violence predominates.

Surprisingly, this anniversary was nevertheless the occasion for a festive gathering in the first days of April 2026: a large race which brought together more than 2,000 participants in the Grand Blottereau park, very close to the Lorène establishment.

At the origin of the event, there are the relatives of the 15-year-old girl who, despite the tragedy, refuse to wall themselves off in shock and anger. A few weeks after Lorène’s death, her parents decided to use the mobilization around them in a constructive way. They created the Effervescence Jeunes association, in favor of mental health. A first jackpot raises the unexpected amount of 100,000 euros. A final year student then suggests organizing a solidarity race at the end of the school year. It will be “Run for Lorène”, which after a successful first edition in July 2025, has, in 2026, doubled the number of its participants.

In parallel with this second race, a mental health village brought together 14 associations offering information and prevention activities. This is the objective of Effervescence Jeunes: to help those who are in trouble to take the first step to have access to a space for dialogue or to mediation of care, to provide information on ways to cultivate one’s mental health.

The chain of runners for Lorène thus transforms the memory of the traumatic event into a wave of positive energy which spreads from person to person, serving the well-being of people. An eloquent illustration, in these troubled times of destructive one-upmanship, that it is concretely possible to respond to evil with good.