iAtoday

Once again this year, an iA Financial Group cycling team will participate in the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie and ride 1,000 km for the wellbeing of young people!

iA will participate in the legendary 1,000 km challenge of the Grand défi Pierre Lavoie (GDPL), from June 14 to 16 in Quebec City.

Last year, the GDPL raised over $3.4 million to promote healthy lifestyle habits among youth and support research on rare hereditary diseases.

iA’s participation in the event is in line with its ambition to be present in its community and support the global wellbeing of Canadians. Members of the iA team will be able to put their passion to work for the common good.

Riding 1,000 km

Five Group Benefits and Retirement Solutions (GBRS) employees will be taking part in the 1,000 km challenge. This major cycling marathon is one of many GDPL activities.

Some 1,200 cyclists will participate in the event. Each cyclist will pedal an average of 400 kilometres over 60 hours, through several rides in the Greater Quebec City area countryside.

Participating for the first time in 2023, the iA team exceeded its goal by raising a grand total of $17,000 in donations! Some of it went towards supporting research on rare hereditary diseases, while $4,500 was given to the École des Coeurs-Vaillants in Quebec City, the grade school sponsored by the iA team to fund projects aimed at promoting healthy lifestyle habits.

The iA team

The team’s objective for this second showing is to live an extraordinary personal experience, to embody the values advocated by iA and to contribute to getting projects off the ground by raising at least $20,000 for the cause.

From left to right, top to bottom: Marie-Pier Pouliot, Frédéric Leblanc, Mathieu Bujold, Krystel Duchesne and Judith Raymond.

For Mathieu Bujold, Solution Architecture Advisor and father of three, including a young girl diagnosed with a rare disease, participating in the GDPL conveys that mobilization can change things, inspire young people and encourage them to get moving. Not to mention that every pedal stroke he makes will also be for his daughter...

Krystel Duchesne, Analyst, is always enthusiastic about a sporting challenge. She’s even more enthusiastic when it’s for a good cause, and she will go the extra mile to promote a healthy, active lifestyle while having fun.

Frédéric Leblanc, Strategic Leader for Drug Programs,  argues that the benefits of physical activity are well established. He adds that the GDPL makes it possible to promote that to young people and that intervening early in people’s lives has a considerable impact on society.

As for Marie-Pier Pouliot, Manager, she is taking part in the GDPL to illustrate the importance of physical activity and healthy lifestyle habits in the development of a strong, resilient and fulfilled future generation.

Finally, Judith Raymond, Digital Product Leader, believes it is essential to encourage young people to develop an interest in physical activity from an early age. Having a little-known genetic predisposition herself, she can personally relate to the GDPL cause, which lead her to get involved without hesitation in supporting research into orphan diseases.

You can contribute to the cause of total wellbeing by visiting the iA cycling team page and making a donation.