- 125 km over five days in Cinque Terre -
MONTREAL, April 29, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - On April 19, 23 hikers, including Stéphane Rousseau, comedian and spokesperson for the Cancer Research Society, set off from Quebec for Italy to tackle the challenge of hiking 125 kilometres in five days, between the sea and the mountains in the rugged landscape of the Cinque Terre. With each participant's personal goal and generous donations from the public, close to $235,000 will be raised for cancer research aimed at preventing, detecting and treating the disease.
Along the rocky hillsides on the Mediterranean coast, the expedition's members walked an average of 25 kilometres per day, the equivalent of seven to eight hours, under a blazing sun or in the rain. Even if the trail's challenges, the many emotions and thrills, and end-of-day fatigue put a strain on the troops' morale, strong support and good cheer were always on point, and everyone was able to find their own kind of inner peace.
Each of the participants dedicated their walk to a cancer hero: a friend or relative who has conquered cancer, who is currently in remission or who died of the disease.
"I walked in honour of my family members, including my father, my mother and my sister, who died of cancer," explained Mr. Rousseau. "There was something so peaceful about the Cinque Terre that gave me the opportunity to collect my thoughts and remember the people I love who have lost their battle with this disease. I hope this expedition to Italy changes the world and helps restore hope to many families, since every dollar invested in research is another step toward a world without cancer!"
The CRS Challenge is an expedition program that includes a fundraising component to support cancer research. Each participant had a goal of raising a minimum of $8,500 and was required to raise awareness in their circle of friends as to the importance of supporting the cause.
"We all have family, friends and acquaintances who have been affected by cancer, and seeing the public support us in our efforts is very motivating. It gives us hope," said Nathalie Giroux, deputy executive director of the Cancer Research Society and herself a participant in the expedition. "We're very pleased to have surpassed our financial goal. It shows there is strong interest in the community to conquer cancer."
Those who want to experience the CRS Challenge can join an adventure to another destination. To find out which expeditions are still available, how much money must be raised for each one or to make a donation to the Cancer Research Society, visit www.crs-src.ca.
About the Cancer Research Society
The Cancer Research Society is a national not-for-profit organization whose sole mission is to fund research on all types of cancer, thereby contributing to the advancement of science aimed at preventing, detecting, and treating this disease. Over the past 20 years, the Cancer Research Society has granted more than $100 million to some 900 cancer research projects across the country, including close to $40 million over the past five years.
SOURCE: Cancer Research Society
Cinque Terre Expedition pictures are available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/src_crs/sets/72157633304188236/
Source: Nathalie Giroux, deputy executive director, Cancer Research Society
Information:
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