From piloting the Barça plane to arriving running at Everest

BarcelonaPerhaps because he is Andorran and grew up among mountains, Uri Pujol Sans dreamed of seeing Everest. And a few years ago, in 2020, he already reached its base camp on foot. One dream ended, but others were born. This November he will return to run 170 km through the Himalayas to help children and young people with neuromuscular diseases; it will be as part of the Everest Trail Race, one of the most demanding stage races in the international mountain racing calendar.

The 2026 edition of the Everest Trail Race will be held from November 9 to 21 in the Solukhumbu region, Nepal. Over six days of competition, participants must cover approximately 170 kilometers with more than 26,000 meters of elevation gain. "Each runner has to transport their own equipment, you have to manage your gear... it's a great challenge. The organizers prepare the camp where you spend the night, but you have to carry everything yourself. I have already done demanding races, such as the Marathon des Sables, in the Sahara, and these days I have trained with the same coach who prepared me for that challenge," says Pujol, who will go there under the motto "I run. You give them wings" to help the Spanish Federation of Neuromuscular Diseases to make possible a new edition of their inclusive camp for children and young people with neuromuscular diseases in Vilanova de Sau. Pujol has set a goal to raise 2,600 euros so that children and young people with neuromuscular diseases can enjoy a week of summer camp while their families also have a few days of rest to continue taking care of them.

"It has always come naturally to me to help people. I carry it inside. It comes out in a natural way," explains this airline pilot for Vueling, who is passionate about sports. Perhaps for this reason he was the pilot chosen to fly the flight that made official the agreement to promote the start of the Tour de France from Barcelona this summer. "Whenever I have an athlete on board I greet them. Being able to meet Miguel Induráin, whom I saw competing in the Tour when I was little in the Pyrenees, was exciting. I have also flown the women's Barça team –he explains–. The best part of my job is that I carry stories. Every passenger has a story."

"When I was a child, I used to get homesick if I was away. I went to study English in Ireland and I was sad. And I remember thinking that pilots went and returned on the same day. That's where the idea of being a pilot was born, despite being from Andorra, where we don't even have space for a runway," he says with a laugh. Apart from being an airplane pilot, "I also pilot people, we could say. I give conferences and talks to motivate. I help people look for their limits. I like to put myself to the test to see where my physical, emotional, and psychological limits are. And I invite people to do the same. And, since I grew up among mountains, well, I want to do the Everest Trail Race thinking about helping –he explains to the ARA–. I have always been like this. When I was young, I used to go to hospitals to accompany patients who were alone, I was a camp counselor, I gave free tutoring classes, and during the Christmas campaign, I collected toys for families who didn't have any. Now I am part of the psychological support team for crews at the company where I work. We help colleagues who are going through bad times due to the loss of people or stress. And I have training to intervene in crises both group and individual."

"In the race, I will run for a week to help them also be able to live a week of camp. When fatigue, pain, and doubts appear, I want to remember that I am not just running to cross a finish line. I have prepared physically, but most of the challenge is mental. I run so that other people can share, play, gain autonomy, and create memories that will accompany them for a long time," adds a man who has already managed to raise 1,420 euros, 55% of the 2,600 euros set as an initial goal, thanks to the participation of 27 donors. Donations can be made on the website migranodearena.com.

In addition, Uri will incorporate the support messages that people wish to leave for him on his backpack in the form of colored ribbons, inspired by Nepalese prayer flags. "Mother Teresa of Calcutta used to say that you should not let anyone turn away from you without leaving them a little happier than they were. This is my motto. There on Everest I will make a dream come true, I will face a challenge and I will help families who need a helping hand. All at the same time, in harmony," he concludes.