Hope is the watchword as the 20th edition of the Tour CIBC Charles-Bruneau gets underway

Departure of the 4-day Trek for Hope

MONTRÉAL, July 7, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Pierre Bruneau, Paul Doucet departed from the Centre de cancérologie Charles-Bruneau at the CHU Sainte-Justine this morning, bound for Drummondville. Joining them were the 36 cyclists taking part in the Tour CIBC Charles-Bruneau's Trek for Hope. The cyclists will pedal the 550 km connecting their departure point with their arrival point in Boucherville, which they will reach four days later. The 20^th edition of the event, which runs from July 7 to 10, will see more than 400 cyclists travel a distance of 1,600 km throughout the province with the objective of raising more than $3 million to finance projects in the area of pediatric oncology.

"When a child leaves us, I don't like to hear that a battle has been lost; but together, through all these great battles, we will succeed in finding a cure," said Pierre Bruneau, spokesperson for the Fondation centre de cancérologie Charles-Bruneau and TVA news anchor. "The challenge that lies before us is a journey, and each leg of that journey leads us closer to our goal. One day, we'll all be winners."

Six treks, including a new 50-kilometre trek
In addition to the Trek for Hope, five other departures will take place in Québec, Sherbrooke, Gatineau, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Boucherville. The cyclists will have the support of several spokespersons: TVA Québec news anchor Pierre Jobin and actor Hugo Giroux will lead the riders' field departing from Québec; actor Eve Landry and LCN news anchor Julie Marcoux will take to the roads between Sherbrooke and Boucherville; performer Luce Dufault and Alexandre Dubé, television columnist with Salut, Bonjour! Week-end, will take part in the trek departing from Gatineau; and Ginette Bruneau, mother of Charles, will join actor Marie-Claude Sabourin to take part in the new Discovery Trek, which will see cyclists complete a 50-kilometre loop between Boucherville and Verchères.

As in previous years, 140 cyclists in the Trek for Generosity will join the team led by Pierre Bruneau and Paul Doucet in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu to travel the final 130 kilometres of the Tour. At the end of the final day, the cyclists in all six treks will gather for the grand arrival ceremony at Parc de la Mairie in Boucherville.

Inspiring heroes
Throughout the event, each cyclist will proudly wear a badge over his or her heart featuring a photograph of a child with cancer, and each will have a chance to meet that child during the course of the event. These meetings are always charged with emotion, and they are a true source of motivation for the cyclists and a touching gesture of solidarity for the children. Symbolically, cyclists and children will pedal shoulder to shoulder with the goal of beating cancer.

It's important to recall that the proceeds from this event will go towards financing several projects in the area of pediatric oncology. For example, the Fondation Centre de cancérologie Charles-Bruneau donated $1.5 million to the Montreal Children's Hospital, which went towards the new Charles-Bruneau Hematology-Oncology Day Treatment Centre, which opened last May.

Trek for Hope | Montréal – Drummondville – Sherbrooke – Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu – Boucherville | 550 km

Tuesday, July 7^th
Departure from the Centre de cancérologie Charles-Bruneau at the CHU Sainte-Justine
3175 chemin de la Côte-Ste-Catherine, Montréal
7:30 a.m. – Arrival of the cyclists
8:15 a.m. – Ribbon-cutting departure ceremony
9:00 a.m. – Departure of the cyclists bound for Drummondville
13:10 p.m. – Lunch at Salle municipale of Saint-Barnabé-Sud, 461 rang Saint-Amable
16:30 p.m. – Arrival of the cyclists at Place Saint-Frédéric, Drummondville
16:50 p.m. – Arrival ceremony

Wednesday, July 8 
Departure from Best Western Plus Hôtel Universel
915, Hains street, Drummondville
8:30 a.m.  – Departure of the cyclists bound for Sherbrooke
12:30 p.m. – Lunch at l'Étang Burbank, 150 rue Water
4:00 p.m. – Arrival at Parc Jacques-Cartier, 298 rue Marchant, Sherbrooke
4:20 p.m. – Arrival ceremony

Thursday, July 9
Departure from the Hôpital Fleurimont du CIUSSS de l'Estrie-CHUS, Sherbrooke
7:45 a.m. – Ribbon-cutting departure ceremony
8:30 a.m. – Departure of the cyclists bound for Victoriaville
12:20 p.m. – Lunch at Centre national de cyclisme, Bromont, 400 rue Shefford
4:10 p.m. – Arrival of the cyclists at Place publique Vieux-St-Jean in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu
4:35 p.m. – Arrival ceremony

Friday, July 10
Departure from the Hôtel Relais Gouverneur St-Jean-sur-Richelieu
725, boul. Du Séminaire Nord, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu
8:15 a.m. – Departure of the cyclists bound to Boucherville
11:55 a.m. – Lunch at parc Gérard Laframboise, 225 route Edouard VII
3:30 p.m. – Arrival at Parc de la Mairie de Boucherville
4:30 p.m. – Closing ceremony
5:15 p.m. – Celebration for families and barbecue
7:00 p.m. – End of the event

Interviews
Please note that our two spokespersons, the cyclists and our young heros will be available for interviews. To request an interview, please contact Jade St-Jean, senior coordinator, at 514 716-7530 or Marie-Claude Lachance, director of events and communications, at 514 219-6350.

About the Tour CIBC Charles-Bruneau
The Tour CIBC Charles-Bruneau has been among the largest fundraising events in Québec for the last 20 years. Thanks to its partners and cyclists, the event has generated close to $15 million since 1995. For further information, please visit charlesbruneau.qc.ca/tour-cibc.

About the Fondation Centre de cancérologie Charles-Bruneau
Over the last 25 years, the Fondation has invested $50 million in research and in the construction and development of and the acquisition of equipment for the Centre as well as three pediatric oncology units.

The Fondation is proud to have established these specialized facilities, which are better adapted to the needs of families, and it now intends to make the most of its investments in the development of the research.

Two objectives will serve to guide researchers: curing the 20% of children whose cancer is resistant to treatment, and improving the quality of life of children in remission so that they can achieve a true cure, free of side-effects and complications. To find out more, please visit charlesbruneau.qc.ca.

To follow the cyclists
The public is invited to view video capsules and photographs posted on the Fondation's website and on its Facebook, Twitter, Instagram (#TourCCB) and YouTube platforms.

To make a donation
The public can show support for children with cancer by encouraging the cyclists with a donation. In order to make a donation, dial 1 877 256-0404 or visit charlesbruneau.qc.ca/tour-cibc. During the month of July, donations can also be made via text message by texting TOUR at 20222.

 

SOURCE Fondation Centre de cancérologie Charles-Bruneau

Marie-Claude Lachance, Director of events and communications, Fondation Centre de cancérologie Charles-Bruneau, Tél. [phone], poste 230, Cell. 514 219-6350, [email protected]; Interview requests: Jade St-Jean, Senior coordinator, Morin Relations Publiques, Cell. 514-716-7530, [email protected]