Every summer for the past 10 years, Patricia McKenzie, Director of Communications at IRIS, has joined other IRIS colleagues in participating in the Tour CIBC Charles-Bruneau, which involves cycling 600 kilometers in four days.
The Tour CIBC Charles-Bruneau is a major cycling event in Quebec, with proceeds going to support pediatric cancer research.
It is neither performance nor distance that motivates Patricia to take on this challenge year after year, but rather the children. The children who are fighting the disease, who inspire research teams to go further, and who remind us that the most important things are often found in small gestures of solidarity.
“Cycling 600 kilometers over four days is nothing compared to the struggle of children with cancer and the anguish experienced by their families.”
Patricia is deeply moved by the courage of the children and their families and by the hope that research brings. Thanks to the efforts of the Charles-Bruneau Foundation and the thousands of donations collected each year, major advances have been made in the treatment of pediatric cancers. Today, four out of five children can be cured. But for Patricia, as long as even one child continues to fight, the battle is not over.
Each Tour is an intense human experience. Beyond the physical challenge, it is the heartfelt connections with the children, the testimonials, and the solidarity that leave the deepest impression. On the road, cyclists often ride while thinking of a specific child, a story they have heard, or a message of encouragement they have received. The emotion is palpable at every stage.
For Patricia, getting involved means carrying a message of hope, one pedal stroke at a time. She reminds us that everyone can contribute in their own way: through a donation, a word of support, or simply being there at the side of the road. Because every little gesture counts.
You too can make a difference.
By making a donation to the Charles-Bruneau Foundation, you are directly contributing to funding research and offering a healthy future to thousands of children. Click here to make a donation.
