For the third year in a row, our RYAM Témiscaming family-and-friends team proudly took part in the IAMGOLD charity race. Once again, it proved to be about much more than crossing a finish line.
This annual event has become a tradition that brings people together, strengthens connections and reminds us what can happen when we come together for something bigger than ourselves.
Over the past three years, our team has raised $20,291 for the Pediatric Support Committee of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, including $7,000 this year alone. Together, we’ve also covered a combined distance of 660 kilometres.
Those numbers tell part of the story. The real impact is measured in the people behind them.
Each year, the race brings together coworkers, friends, family members and new faces. We connect with people we might never have met otherwise. We encourage one another, share plenty of laughs, push through difficult moments and, somehow, keep putting one foot in front of the other.
One of this year’s most inspiring stories came from a couple on our team. What began as a personal commitment to better health—quitting smoking and taking up running—became something far greater when they joined the race.
They captured that journey perfectly:
“The steps my wife and I took to save our own lives became something much bigger. Together, our stride turned into a kind of medicine—one that could help bring healing to others in need.”
Another quote from this year’s event has stayed with us:
“Partially having the time of our lives, partially fighting for our lives.”
That perfectly captures the final five kilometres, when every team comes together as one. By then, everyone is tired, sore, proud and emotional—but still moving forward. It’s challenging, yet it’s also one of the most rewarding moments of the entire experience.
After three years, this race has become more than an annual event. It has become a symbol of teamwork, perseverance, generosity and community—a reminder that every step can make a difference.
To everyone who participated, thank you for helping make this tradition stronger, one step at a time.
And if you haven’t joined us yet, perhaps next year will be your year. The finish line is only one milestone. The real journey begins with taking that first step.
