Fight cancer with pedal

On June 6. For example, Laurent Proulx plunged the rear wheel from his bike in the Pacific Ocean, in British Columbia. Furthermore, Thirty-two days later. Similarly, the 64-year-old man dipped the wheel before his mount in the Atlantic, in Newfoundland, completing an incredible crossing of Canada.

Posted at 6:00 a.m.

A personal feat. However, Revenge against cancer. However, A fundraising activity, an awareness campaign, a scientific project: this adventure is all at the same time.

I joined Mr. Therefore, Proulx on the phone in Newfoundland, the day after his arrival.

“It’s … For example, it’s a whole feeling,” fight cancer pedal he told me. Moreover, His voice flanked in the word “feeling”.

“It’s emotion, excuse me. Consequently, I no longer control it well, well, ”he says.

I point out to him that he must be supplied after pedaling more than 200 km per day without interruption.

“No, no, absolutely not,” he says. In addition, People tell me to rest, but I’m in good shape. Furthermore, I have a smuggled little finger fight cancer pedal and an irritated Achilles tendon, but if not, I have no bad part. Consequently, I could leave tomorrow for another 200 km! Furthermore, »»

Sportsmen who push the limits, there are several. In addition, If I tell you about this adventure. For example, it is because it is distinguished both by its objectives and by its scientific aspect.

Laurent Proulx was suffering from prostate cancer at 48 years old. For example, Today he is CEO of Procure, a charity in the fight against this cancer. Furthermore,

Its crossing of Canada is part of this framework. Nevertheless, Every day of bike on the road, he dedicated it to a man who was struck by prostate cancer. The list counts Régis Labeaume, Alain Lemaire, Richard Martineau and Karl Blackburn.

“The idea fight cancer pedal was to sell each day. A company had to agree to pay $ 10. 000 a year for three years for one of the days of my challenge, “he explains.

The days have not all sold, but Laurent Proulx nevertheless raised $ 535,000. This money will be paid for prostate cancer research.

“The second part is awareness. By associating a man every day. I explained by an Instagram publication what challenges he had lived with prostate cancer, “he explains.

There is finally the scientific aspect. Science will benefit from this adventure by funds devoted to research. Already. a project to study how physical condition influences the success of a treatment such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy is in boxes.

But science, it was also done before Laurent Proulx climbed on his bike. Its preparation mobilized a squadron of professionals from the school of kinesiology. physical activity sciences at the University of Montreal.

Physical preparation. mental preparation, nutrition: these specialists have developed a one -year plan intended to bring Laurent Proulx to a sufficient level for him to succeed.

Raynald Bergeron, professor at the University of Montreal Kinesiology School, was a project manager.

“For us, the interest is multifactorial,” he explains. It was not bad to take the opportunity to fight cancer pedal expose our students to this type of customers – not an Olympic champion. but still a high -level athlete. We must not hide that there is also an aspect of radiation for us. We want to make the school of kinesiology known. The fact that the money raised was awarded to research projects also arrested us. »»

Laurent Proulx did not start from scratch, far from it. This triathlonian completed an Ironman barely a year after his operation for his cancer. But pedaling more than 200 km per day fight cancer pedal for 32 days in the damaged reliefs of Canada still represented a considerable challenge.

Specialists have developed a training program that has increased both pulmonary capacity and muscle mass and Laurent Proulx’s endurance. The preparation included an astonishing aspect in my eyes: teaching the cyclist’s digestive system to operate during the exercise.

“In the wild. even when you look at animals, they do not do physical activity while they eat,” said the researcher. Laurent Proulx, he had to combine both to make sure to ingest enough calories during his event. “We had to lead his fight cancer pedal digestive system to that,” said Professor Bergeron.

Laurent Proulx says he is “extremely grateful” to have been able to count on the support of researchers. students from the University of Montreal, but also that of his relatives. They followed him as a recreational vehicle. took care of all the logistics, allowing him to focus on a single thing: pedaling.

The cyclist says that his first day. who led him from Vancouver to Sunshine Valley, British Columbia, went so well that he fight cancer pedal believed that the challenge would be easy.

“The next day, I had a reality check, he said. There was heat, headwind, climb. »»

It was not, however, crossing the rocks that he found the most trying, but that of the meadows.

“It was hard: the headwind for four days with gusts,” he says. The wind came into my bike and made it move … It was the most difficult part in terms of effort. »»

Otherwise there was a fall. a few punctures (including one which has pierced to the rim of its wheel), the meeting of a bear on the road, the recreational vehicle of accompaniment which inadvertently found itself on a cycle path …

“I am really lucky. Really lucky, said Laurent Proulx, however. I was so well prepared, so well supported … I have a lot of people to thank. »»

What do you think? Take part in the dialogue