RUNNING THE ICELANDIC RING ROAD

A 1,400 km epic run in some of the WORLD’S most outlandish landscapes to raise awareness and funds to help fight multiple sclerosis.

Why did I choose Iceland for my next humanitarian run instead of Canada? While Canada is beautiful and wild, this project is extra special. During my last mission, One Run For One Life 2022, I ran from Montréal to Quebec City to help Malik, a five-year-old boy with severe leukemia. My close friend Sophie accompanied and crewed for me. As a specialized nurse practitioner, Sophie invested so much in helping her patients, and although she didn’t quite understand why I endured so much suffering, she supported me like a pro.

At the finish line, after 270 km, Sophie hugged me and whispered that she finally understood why I did this. On our way back to Montréal, she asked if I wanted to do it again with her.She explained that my dedication inspired her and that seeing me happy despite the pain made her realize I wouldn’t be the same without these missions. I suggested Iceland, and she immediately said yes.

Unfortunately, Sophie passed away in her sleep on November 18, 2022. She was in my life for only three years but was a real inspiration. Despite having multiple sclerosis, she never showed weakness in public and worked tirelessly as an SNP. Though MS was not her cause of death, I decided to go to Iceland to raise awareness and funds to fight MS in her honor. I would carry a sample of her ashes around my neck for the entire run and bury it at the finish line. In this way, we would have still run the Icelandic Ring Road together.

Why I’m Running to Help Fight Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). It occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and damages the protective covering of nerve fibers, called myelin. This damage disrupts the transmission of signals between the brain and the rest of the body, leading to a wide range of symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, numbness, tingling, vision problems, coordination and balance issues.

The symptoms of MS can vary greatly depending on the location and extent of the damage, and they can appear and disappear or evolve over time. There is currently no cure for MS, but treatments are available to manage symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.

I have witnessed how MS can affect people’s lives and make them live in fear, pain, shame, and powerlessness. I want to help, in my own way, fight against this disease by raising awareness and collecting funds. Thus, on June 1, 2025, I will run for days and I hope that you will make generous donations.

Thank you in advance!

TRACK ME LIVE

As I run around Iceland, see where I am at all times

About the Icelandic Ring Road

The Icelandic Ring Road, also known as Route 1 or Þjóðvegur 1 in Icelandic, is a national road encircling the entire island of Iceland. It covers a distance of approximately 1,332 kilometres (828 miles) and connects many of the country’s most famous tourist destinations.

The Ring Road was completed in 1974 and designed to make travel around the island more accessible, particularly for those who wanted to see the country’s natural attractions, such as glaciers, volcanoes, waterfalls, and geothermal areas. The road is mostly paved and generally open year-round, although it can be closed during winter months because of harsh weather conditions.

Live tracking will be available on June 1, 2025 at 9:00 am EST

You can track my progress in real-time, and see where I am at all times during the 1,400 km run around the magnificent island of Iceland.

When I am running, the refresh rate of my GPS communicator is set to about 2 minutes, in other words, the map is refreshed to pinpoint my current position every two minutes or so.

Tracking technology provided by Follow My Challenge and Garmin.