Cascades team member Kizzy Simoneau is taking part in the Circuit bleu Charles-Bruneau for the second time this year. It was under the influence of her close friends, Nathalie Gamache and Evelyne Lafontaine, also proud Cascade riders, that she decided to join the event.
For Kizzy, the mission of the Charles-Bruneau Foundation is deeply personal. Her husband has participated in the Tour CIBC Charles-Bruneau for three years, an initiative that took on its full meaning after family friends benefited from the Foundation's help for their cancer-stricken son. “Seeing this boy cured today is living proof that research works,” she explains with emotion, underlining the importance of getting involved in the cause.
Within Cascades, she has found a true community of support. She describes her colleagues as people of immense generosity; a value deeply rooted in the company's culture. “I'm surrounded by generous, human friends,” she confides.
Indeed, the support of her employer plays a crucial role in Kizzy's commitment. “I'm lucky to work for a company that's so committed,” she says. As a new recruit to the plant manager succession program, Kizzy has even succeeded in recruiting colleagues who, without Cascades' help, might not have been able to take part in the Blue Circuit or achieve their fund-raising goals.
Beyond the fund-raising, the Blue Circuit allows her to strengthen her ties with her colleagues. “It allows us to bond and get to know our colleagues in a different way,” she says. For her, these shared moments on the water are an opportunity to forge memorable bonds, imbued with vulnerability and authenticity.
In conclusion, Kizzy has a message of encouragement for all those considering participating in the Blue Circuit: “Together, we can make a real difference! Dare to participate, dare to ask, dare to share. It's an honor to paddle for you, with you. I salute your courage and admire your strength.”
