Luxembourg-based IMC Agency founder Alexandra Dourassof was part of a duo that placed third amongst 40 teams in the recent Défi d’Elles Lapland challenge, a polar raid which took place on 16-20 January and supports rare disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Sometimes referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease or motor neuron disease, ALS is rapidly progressive and fatal. Even though it’s rare, it’s also the most common of the motor neuron diseases, and patients typically die between three to five years after the onset of symptoms. The aetiology of the disease remains unknown.
“ALS remains widely misunderstood and underrecognised,” Dourassof says. “I chose to support this cause and help raise awareness—through a challenge that turns adversity into strength and solidarity.”
During the Lapland challenge, Dourassof and her sports partner, Julie-France, competing under the team name “IMC – Imagine Make Connect”, completed a 15km trail course (with a surprise sledge ride for the final downhill section), 10km of cross-country skate skiing, plus a 20km run and fatbike course, all in deep snow drifts and below-freezing temperatures. Dourassof admits they got lucky that the temperatures were “only” around -10°C while she was there, although teams had prepared for the possibility of temperatures dropping to -30°C.
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In between the races, teams could benefit from various activities and excursions organised by Défi d’Elles, including sauna sessions, snow village visits, and sled dog experiences.
An inspiring journey
Having spent much of her career in Moscow, Dourassof is French with Russian roots, she says she’s no stranger to running in cold climates. Though she enjoys the occasional run, she felt less prepared for the skate skiing, so she attempted it a few times before the Lapland challenge, in Luxembourg and in Switzerland. Her first attempt “was a disaster”, but she trained over a few more sessions, in part to overcome her fear of managing downhill slopes. And she’s glad she stuck with it, saying the training made a big difference.
One of the memories that brings a smile to her face is how she and her partner took turns running and riding the fatbike, supporting each other when one needed a break from one of the activities. Dourassof says she was surprised to learn they’d placed third, as she hadn’t undergone extensive training, but adds that the idea behind Défi d’Elles “is not about exceptional sport results, but to believe in yourself, that you can do hard things that you thought you couldn’t do,” as well as working together with a partner to overcome obstacles.
Although Dourassof headed into the charity challenge without knowing anyone with the disease, she has met people along her journey who have moved and inspired her, who make her want to continue championing the cause. Among them is Pascal Bataille, a French television producer and presenter, who also serves as an ambassador to ARSLA, a French association aimed at overcoming the disease and finding solutions for people who have been diagnosed and for those around them. Bataille, who took part in the Lapland challenge, also collaborated on a book with Lorène Vivier, another former Défi d’Elles participant who was diagnosed with ALS in 2022. Hearing about their stories and commitment has left a lasting impression on Dourassof, and so IMC Lux Agency has extended its ALS donation collection to end-March.
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