The 9th Edition of the "For Mathieu" International Half-Marathon Kicks Off
The starting gun for the 9th edition of the "For Mathieu" international half-marathon (21 km) was fired this morning, Saturday, October 18, 2025, in the desert city of Douz. Over 240 runners from Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and France are participating in the event.
The organizer of the marathon, Marie-Thérèse, explained to Mosaïque FM that "this sporting and tourist event is a commemoration of her son Mathieu, who died in an accident in the Douz desert in 2015. Following this, the family decided to dig a well in the area where their son died, a symbolic gesture representing their attachment to life through providing water for nomads and desert travelers. Subsequently, they began organizing an international half-marathon over 21 km, starting from the well and ending in the city of Douz."
Chokri Ben Mansour, owner of a travel agency, stated to Mosaïque FM that the number of participants in this sporting and tourist event has reached 240 this year, coming from France, Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria. These participants include friends of the family and enthusiasts of challenging sports, particularly since the marathon takes place among sand dunes, oases, and ancient houses.
The international half-marathon also sees the participation of 25 competitors in the walking event, allowing everyone to enjoy the beauty of the desert. Ben Mansour highlighted that this event also contributes to promoting the Saharan destination in southern Tunisia.
