Justine Decourselle, a young French nurse and memorial runner from the Hérault region of Occitanie, has died at the age of 25 or 26, according to reports published on October 16, 2026. Her passing has prompted deep sadness among local officials, remembrance organisations, and people who followed her extraordinary journey to honour victims of the Holocaust. While some online headlines refer to an accident, the reports reviewed do not establish that an accident caused her death.
Justine became widely known for La Course contre l’oubli, meaning “The Race Against Forgetting.” In the spring of 2026, she ran approximately 1,500 kilometres from Drancy, near Paris, to Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland, following the historical route associated with Convoy 71, which deported Jewish prisoners during the Second World War. Beginning on April 13, she completed the journey on May 15, turning an immense physical challenge into a deeply personal act of remembrance.
Along the route, Justine met residents, local representatives, and people committed to preserving the memory of deportation. She also placed small stones carrying messages of peace, created by children and members of the public, along her journey. Her work as a nurse had brought her into contact with older people who had experienced deportation, helping inspire her commitment to ensuring their stories would not be forgotten. Through her determination, she encouraged communities to reflect on history and the responsibility of passing its lessons to future generations.
Tributes following the news of her death have highlighted her warmth, courage, and dedication. Local leaders and remembrance organisations expressed their sadness, recalling the energy she brought to her project and the impact she had on people who welcomed her along the way. In early October, she attended an exhibition in Pérols that documented her memorial run and had spoken about continuing the initiative with her companion, Jérémy. Her passing has left those who supported her grieving not only the loss of a young woman but also the unfinished plans she hoped to pursue.
As friends, supporters, and members of the wider community remember Justine Decourselle, her journey remains a powerful part of her legacy. She used running to bring attention to the lives lost during the Holocaust and to remind others that remembrance must remain an active commitment. The precise circumstances of her death and funeral arrangements have not been reliably established in the reports reviewed, so it is important not to speculate. May those closest to Justine find comfort in the memories they shared, and may the cause she championed continue to inspire others to keep history alive.
