Meet the Heroes and Heroines of the Coupe Charles-Bruneau in Quebec City
On May 24, participants in the Coupe Charles-Bruneau in Quebec City, presented by IGA, will don their running shoes to play for the likes of Béatrice, Hugo and Mathyas. Discover the stories of our sparkling and deeply inspiring Heroes and Heroines – they are the soul and raison d’être of the Charles-Bruneau Cup.Meet the Heroes and Heroines of the Charles-Bruneau Cup in Quebec City.
Beatrice, 7, undergoing immunotherapy for stage 4 invasive melanoma
After several months of uncertainty, in January 2023, Beatrice was diagnosed with stage 4 invasive melanoma. For all family members, the diagnosis came as a huge shock, but they say they quickly bounced back into action and solution mode. After surgery to remove her lymph nodes and following genomic analysis, Beatrice began her immunotherapy treatments in March 2023. For the family, the Fondation Charles-Bruneau means “the hope of a cure with less invasive, personalized care and treatment, as well as a warm environment where we feel understood and welcomed, whatever our emotions”.
This bubbly 7-year-old loves outdoor activities such as cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, horseback riding or simply playing outdoors. How do you make her smile every time? Tell her about her passion for animals, especially horses! Her parents describe her as empathetic, resilient, curious and artistic.
Motivated by the event, Béatrice convinced her father to create a team with her entourage: Les Alliés. Support them now: https://www.coupecb-quebec.ca/faire-un-don/formulaire/?teamId=1733
Hugo, 9, in remission from acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Hugo, 9, in remission from leukemia Originally from Baie-Comeau, Hugo was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March 2023 and has now been in remission for 2 years, with follow-ups at the Unité Charles-Bruneau at CHU de Québec-Université Laval. The discovery of his diagnosis came after a hospital appointment for hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Hugo recalls: “I was super tired. I’d fall asleep when I got home from school, even on the kitchen floor, and the sores in my mouth started bleeding. We went to the hospital for a blood test while Dad was the ER doctor on duty. They put me in an office with a nurse, then Mom and Dad came to tell me that I had a big disease, that we’d have to have big treatments very soon, that we’d have to stay in the hospital. Later, we found out we were leaving by air ambulance for the CHUL (now that was cool!). When my parents told me it was some kind of cancer, I was afraid it would be fatal, I was afraid of the injections I’d get at the hospital; I was sad. Now, I’m proud to have made it through leukemia.
During his treatments, one of the hardest things for him to do was to take medicine by mouth. To remedy the situation, he practiced hard with his parents to learn how to swallow pills. He even started practicing with nerdy candy! Now he’s a real pro, swallowing 12 pills in 32 seconds.
Hugo is a youngster with many passions: making LEGOs, reading (especially Super Dog books), playing video games, Star Wars-style lightsaber battles, playing Monopoly and many other activities! He’s also a great sportsman, whether it’s soccer, downhill skiing, cycling or Taekwondo, Hugo always has a contagious smile on his face.
At 9 years of age, Hugo is a philanthropist at heart. During a volunteer day, he came up with the idea of creating a snake out of painted rocks: a project that rallies his community. His goal is to break the Guinness record for the world’s longest painted rock snake. He’s now at just over 30,000 rocks, with a goal of 32,500. A fine example of up-and-coming philanthropy!
Mathyas, 15, in remission from acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Mathyas, 15, in remission from acute lymphoblastic leukemiaGreat ball-hockey enthusiast, Mathyas, 15, perfectly embodies the spirit of the Charles-Bruneau Cup in Quebec City presented by IGA as the Hero of the Event!
In January 2021, Mathyas was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Today, after two years in remission, he is enjoying life to the full. As soon as he arrived at the Charles-Bruneau Unit of the CHU de Québec-Université Laval, he and his family were welcomed with open arms: “We were told that the Charles-Bruneau Foundation would always be there for us. Today, we can confirm that thanks to the Foundation, hundreds of children like Mathyas are recovering from this terrible disease. The Fondation has always been there for us, and we are eternally grateful.
Before his treatments, Mathyas used to play on the ice, but after his diagnosis, he traded in his skates for running shoes, exchanging ice for the intensity of ball field hockey. During the Cup, you’ll see him attacking or defending goals with energy! Happy to be back in the game, he savors every moment that helps him get back into shape.
His parents describe him as a resilient, caring and optimistic young man. His greatest dream? To succeed in life. And with his determination, there’s no doubt he’ll succeed!
It’s for young people like them that the Fondation Charles-Bruneau’s mission is to offer a healthy future to the 2,000 children with cancer across Quebec.
