MONTREAL — Firefighters began Sunday with a major challenge: the stretch between Montreal and Rivière-du-Loup. The aim of the initiative is to raise awareness of organ donation and to collect donations for this purpose.

“The reception from the public was exceptional,” says Éric Bérubé, director of the Rivière-du-Loup fire protection service, who is behind the organization of this race.

Mr. Bérubé travels the 500 kilometers between Montreal and Rivière-du-Loup with three colleagues: Jean-Yves Dione, firefighter from Chelsea, Samuel Lacroix, firefighter from Laurier station, and Stéphane Goyette, operations manager of the fire protection department. from Montréal.

“I was looking for a way to support the foundation of Dr. to support Marsolai. Being a long-distance runner myself, I once said: why not organize a race that starts in Laval and goes to Rivière-du-Loup for the opening of 55?^e AGSICQ Congress,” explained Mr. Bérubé on the phone during a short break in Longueuil before continuing his journey to Saint-Hyacinthe.

The group of runners began their journey on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. at the Sacré-Coeur Hospital in Montreal and will arrive in Rivière-du-Loup on Saturday for the official opening of the Congress of the Association for Fire and Civil Protection managers. from Quebec (AGSICQ).

Firefighters will stop in multiple cities including Drummondville, Plessisville, Quebec and La Pocatière.

“Many people have also joined us to run for office, which encourages us, it stimulates the discussions,” says Mr. Bérubé, who will notably be visiting the Collège Saint-Bernard in Drummondville to discuss the issue of organ donation with students.

Since AGSICQ already supported the foundation of Dr. Supporting Marsolai, it was only natural for Mr. Bérubé to join this cause.

“For me, it’s a cause that’s particularly close to my heart because, you know, when a person dies, meaning they’re in a state of brain death, the family has just lost a loved one of their choosing. “An organ donation does not necessarily have to be associated with the associated financial support,” explains Éric Bérubé. The Mission of Dr. In particular, Marsolais offers support to the families of organ donors.

The other three participants responded quickly to Mr. Bérubé’s call when he posted a notice of runner recruitment.

“These are people who really care about this cause, people who have sometimes undergone interventions as first responders,” explains Éric Bérubé. It’s sad to say, but by saving the body of the deceased we can (thanks to organ donation) sometimes save eight more lives.

Defend donors and their donation

“The goal is for people to talk, for people to know that organ donation needs to be supported, seen, known and discussed,” said Dr. Pierre Marsolais, intensive care doctor and founder of the foundation that bears his name, in an interview.

The race offers a good view of his foundation. “You know, awareness, not only do we have to do it with potential donors, we also have to do it with health workers because there are also many myths and perceptions that are wrong, even on the part of health workers. ‘ says Mr Marsolais.

He points out that Quebecers are now in the habit of signing their consent to donate organs on the back of their health insurance card. “I’m here to defend the donors and the donation,” he says.

“It takes more than 80 hours for us to take samples. So it’s three more days of hospitalization that’s hard to endure and painful for families. But if the families are discouraged and give up, the gift will not materialize. We didn’t protect the donation ourselves,” explains Dr. marsolais His foundation therefore offers support to donor families, particularly in relation to transport and accommodation, so that they can be with their loved ones in their last moments.

“We are in demand, but in my opinion we are not known enough,” stresses Mr. Marsolais, who hopes that his foundation will become better known to the general public, but also to nurses and doctors who could refer families to it. .

According to the doctor, the financial contribution of the foundation is far from what organ donors do for society. “What they are doing for society is disproportionate to what we can do for them. You know, they save lives, then they even save money,” says Dr. Pierre Marsolais. For example, each transplanted kidney removes a patient from dialysis treatment and saves the Quebec government $1 million.

The four firefighters taking part in the race will be welcomed to Rivière-du-Loup this Saturday at 8:30 am.

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