Name: Hélène Fournier
Age: 30
Occupation: Director/Owner, Prodeo Learning Company
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Family: Husband, Nico; Cat, Tilt; Dog, Sienna
Biggest physical accomplishment to date: Muskoka Half-Ironman 2009
Giving Back/Giving Forward
This past year (2009), I challenged myself to complete my first triathlon. Through the support of colleagues, friends and a coach, I pushed myself every bit of the way to achieve higher than anticipated results, making it to a half-ironman in little time. I took charge of my health by maintaining a vegan diet, reducing stress, and staying on top of my workouts. I recognized how fortunate I am to be healthy, to be fit, and to have access to basic resources and caring people. I am incredibly grateful for this and want to give something back in support of those who aren’t as fortunate. The Sears National Kids Cancer Ride is a chance of a lifetime that will both challenge me and inspire me, all the while making a strong contribution and difference in children’s lives. This epic adventure will help me create awareness, communicate and share my experiences with thousands of people around an important cause – the fight against childhood cancer.
I am French-Canadian, born in Arthabasca (QC) – November 20, 1979, and raised throughout the eastern provinces. My husband and I recently moved to Toronto, after eight years of being away from home – living in Winnipeg (MB) and Edmonton (AB). For the past ten years, I have provided leadership and innovation in Education systems across the world; and grown increasingly aware of the importance of caring for children in need. I have supported and spent time in an orphanage in Belize, and sponsored a young Congolese refugee family. I have helped build education programs for rural communities in Western China, Sri-Lanka, Romania and Belize. Through these efforts, I have recognized the importance of providing help and support to children and families in my own country, and increasingly see that there are countless opportunities to do so. My first opportunity, this year, is to ride across Canada with the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride.
Please join me in supporting these children and their families. With your help, brave children will return to life as regular kids again.
