Chain of Life Challenge
Outaouais
Take on the Chain of Life Challenge at mont Cascades!
Support our student flag-bearer, Christine Dufour, ambassador of the very first link in the chain of life: education. Make a donation to your region, create a team, or join your flag-bearers’ team. You can also register individually. Through this act of solidarity, you are directly helping to advance organ and tissue donation education in our schools.
It's a date on Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 9:30 a.m.
448, chemin du Mont-des-Cascades
Cantley (Québec) J8V 3B2
Flag-bearer
Christine Dufour
Hi,
My name is Christine Dufour, and I’m very honored to be this year’s Chain of Life Challenge flag-bearer for my region.
At 24 years old, I received a kidney from my father. This living donation allowed me to spend nearly fourteen years without dialysis, years that allowed me to build my adult life, advance my career, become a mother, travel, and discover my passion for hiking and climbing, all while learning to take care of my health through physical activity and healthy lifestyle habits.
Today, I am back on dialysis, waiting for a second transplant. I am therefore very familiar with both sides of organ donation: the immense gratitude of having received, but also the deeply rooted hope that one day, this precious gift will grant me a second chance.
This year, it is with pride that I take on the role of Flag-Bearer for the Chain of Life Challenge in Outaouais. Climbing Mont Cascades will hold a very special meaning for me. Every step will represent the determination of those waiting, the generosity of donors and their families, and all the human links that make transplantation possible.
The mission of Chain of life deeply inspires me: educating youth about organ and tissue donations, opening up discussions within families, and raising awareness about the importance of taking care of one's health. My journey has taught me just how precious health is. For me, being healthy no longer means living in a disease-free body. Instead, it means learning to respect my limits, staying active despite obstacles, and making choices day after day that allow me to take care of myself and move forward.
On October 18, the day after World Organ Donation and Transplantation Day, I invite you to walk by my side, form a team, or make a donation. Together, let’s truly cultivate a culture of donation and health.
Christine
The Key Links in the Chain of Life
The key links in the chain of life are doctors, nurses, transplant recipients, donor families, teachers, students, distinguished climbers, public figures and many others... who join forces to create a movement uniting all those touched directly or indirectly by organ and tissue donation.
The day of the event
- For the Challenge, you will need warm clothing, a snack and water.
- In case of bad weather, please consult the Facebook event for the Outaouais region for details.
- Door prizes will be drawn on the day of the event.
9:30 a.m.
Arrival time for participants
10:30 a.m.
Welcome remarks and speeches by special guests
10:30 a.m.
Start of the climb
11:30 a.m.
Photo at the top
12:00 a.m.
End of the event
Anick Charette
Team: Les Gogoss
Guy Gosselin
Team: Les Gogoss
Maelie Gosselin
Team: Les Gogoss
Laura Gosselin
Team: Les Gogoss
Nicole Gagné
Team: Les Gogoss
Caroline Gosselin
Team: Les Gogoss
Christine Dufour
Team: Les Perlinpinpins
Sylvain Cyr
Team: Les Perlinpinpins
Éris Dufour-Cyr
Team: Les Perlinpinpins
Marina Dufour
Team: Les Perlinpinpins
Antoine Morin
Team: Les Perlinpinpins
Audrey Defalco
Team: Les Perlinpinpins
Monique Savard
Team: Les Perlinpinpins
Jean Guy Cyr
Team: Les Perlinpinpins
Joanne Savard
Team: Les Perlinpinpins
Alain Bélanger
Team: Les Perlinpinpins
Veronique Do Couto
Team: Les Perlinpinpins
Ayoub El Moutribi
Team: Les Perlinpinpins
Malik El Moutribi
Team: Les Perlinpinpins
Karim El Moutribi
Team: Les Perlinpinpins
Emilie Perrier
Team: Les Perlinpinpins
Mathieu Bourgie
Team: Les Perlinpinpins
Ellie Fournier
Team: Les Perlinpinpins
Julie Rochon
Team: Les Reines de la montagne
Céleste Crevier
Team: Les Reines de la montagne
Chloé Daher
Team: Les Reines de la montagne
Émile Dufour
Team: No team
Danielle Lafrance
Team: No team
Eric Mougeot
Team: No team
Josee Lacroix
Team: No team
Guy Lafrance
Team: No team
Émile Dufour
1 month agomade a donation of $30 to the region
Nathalie Lavoie
1 month agomade a donation of $25 to the region
Christine Dufour
1 month agomade a donation of $130 to the team: Les Perlinpinpins
Marina Dufour
1 month agomade a donation of $80 to the team: Les Perlinpinpins
Marie Morin
1 month agomade a donation of $100 to the team: Les Perlinpinpins
maryse Gagnon
1 month agomade a donation of $100 to the team: Les Perlinpinpins
« Je suis pas capable de les suivre physiquement mais je les encourage ainsi. Bravo! »
Manon Chouinard
3 weeks 3 days agomade a donation of $25 to the team: Les Perlinpinpins
Ian Cyr
3 weeks 3 days agomade a donation of $100 to the team: Les Perlinpinpins
Anick Charette
3 weeks 2 days agomade a donation of $50 to the team: Les Gogoss
Guy Gosselin
3 weeks 2 days agomade a donation of $50 to the team: Les Gogoss
Monique Tremblay
3 weeks 1 day agomade a donation of $25 to the team: Les Gogoss
Monique Savard
3 weeks 1 day agomade a donation of $60 to the team: Les Perlinpinpins
Joanne Savard
3 weeks agomade a donation of $60 to the team: Les Perlinpinpins
Laura Gosselin
3 weeks agomade a donation of $50 to the team: Les Gogoss
Linda Giroux
3 weeks agomade a donation of $50 to the team: Les Gogoss
Nicole Gagné
2 weeks 6 days agomade a donation of $30 to the team: Les Gogoss
Suzanne Bédard
2 weeks 5 days agomade a donation of $100 to the team: Les Perlinpinpins
Veronique Do Couto
2 weeks 5 days agomade a donation of $60 to the team: Les Perlinpinpins
Danielle Lafrance
2 weeks 4 days agomade a donation of $100 to the region
Julie Rochon
2 weeks agomade a donation of $30 to the team: Les Reines de la montagne
Serge Crevier
1 week 6 days agomade a donation of $50 to the team: Les Reines de la montagne
« GO Les Reines! »
Thérèse Boudrias
1 week 6 days agomade a donation of $50 to the team: Les Gogoss
« Go gang Go »
Raymonde Rochon
1 week 6 days agomade a donation of $25 to the team: Les Reines de la montagne
François Rochon
1 week 6 days agomade a donation of $25 to the team: Les Reines de la montagne
Marie-Claude Latourelle
1 week 5 days agomade a donation of $25 to the region
Annie Leduc
1 week 5 days agomade a donation of $25 to the region
« De tout coeur avec vous depuis maintenant 20 ans :) »
Caroline Gosselin
1 week 4 days agomade a donation of $50 to the team: Les Gogoss
Marie-Josée Laventure
1 week 4 days agomade a donation of $25 to the region
Claudette Charette
1 week 4 days agomade a donation of $100 to the team: Les Gogoss
Helene Sabourin
1 week 4 days agomade a donation of $50 to the team: Les Gogoss
« Go go go!!! »
Julie Lepine
1 week 3 days agomade a donation of $25 to the team: Les Gogoss
Emilie Legendre
1 week 3 days agomade a donation of $25 to the team: Les Reines de la montagne
Eric Mougeot
1 week 1 day agomade a donation of $50 to the region
Emilie Perrier
1 week agomade a donation of $60 to the team: Les Perlinpinpins
Myriam Bou Malhab
4 days 21 hours agomade a donation of $50 to the team: Les Reines de la montagne
Josee Lacroix
1 day 19 hours agomade a donation of $40 to the region
Guy Lafrance
1 day 19 hours agomade a donation of $40 to the region
Health Ambassador
Dr. Sophie Gagnon
In my work as a neurologist, I have witnessed brain death far too often. Some of these patients were eligible to donate their organs. As their own lives came to an end, they had the possibility of doing something extraordinary: saving other lives.
This opportunity arises in only about 1% of all deaths. For families facing the profound decision of whether or not to donate their loved one’s organs during such a painful time, having already thought about it and discussed it together can make all the difference, allowing them to make their decision with greater peace of mind.
And you, young people—with your minds buzzing with curiosity, your desire to understand, to speak up and to change the world—you are among the best equipped, across all generations, to understand what is at stake and to talk about it with the people you love. For them. For yourselves.
You are also in the best position to protect this wonderful yet fragile gift that is your health. Celebrate your body and all its potential by taking care of it and allowing it to thrive. Read, sing, study and create. Explore the arts, play sports and make discoveries. Eat well. Build genuine relationships. Be fully alive!
In the Chain of Life, you are strong links. Never underestimate your importance. You have a vital role to play in understanding and communicating the issues surrounding organ donation and health.
Become ambassadors for both.
Dr. Sophie Gagnon
Mountain Climbing and Waiting for a Transplant: What a Parallel!
Participants in the Chain of Life Challenge carry the flag to the top of a mountain in their region.
Waiting for a transplant is a bit like climbing a mountain. Both require preparation, fortitude, determination, perseverance and, most of all, support — the climber needs strong climbing partners and the person waiting for an organ needs a reliable support network. Both are real challenges. This is why the mountain has become one of the symbols associated with Chain of Life.
By planting the Chain of Life flag at the top of a mountain, we are not only showing our solidarity for organ and tissue donation, but we are also helping send a message of hope to all those waiting for a transplant in Quebec and elsewhere.
Thank you to our partners!
