Québec 800 Challenge: Teaming Up for Youth!
Eight colleagues, 800 kilometers, four days… and one shared conviction: we don’t leave anyone behind.
For four days and four nights, participants in the Québec 800 Challenge will take turns covering 800 kilometers on foot—without ever stopping. An extraordinary physical and mental challenge that they have chosen to take on together in support of Tel-jeunes’ mission.
Behind the kilometers are, above all, people—their reasons, their doubts, and their deep desire to make a difference. Let’s meet these Tel-jeunes colleagues who have decided to embark on this remarkable adventure together.
Maïté (Captain)
I naturally set challenges for myself, and saying yes to the Québec 800 Challenge was almost instinctive. I like it when things are hard, when giving up isn’t an option—and I especially love helping others push beyond their limits.
Being the team captain truly reflects who I am: supporting, motivating, setting small goals, and moving forward one day at a time, without ever pushing anyone too hard. When it gets tough, I remind myself why I’m doing this. Knowing that we’re running with teenagers in mind—young people who need support—gives me incredible strength.
Olivier
I see this challenge as an opportunity to step outside my comfort zone and show young people that we can get through difficult moments—together. Running gives me a sense of freedom and accomplishment.
Over these four days, there will definitely be highs and lows, but I know the team will be there. Often, it’s the hardest moments, in the middle of the night, that create the strongest memories.
Charlotte
I said yes to this adventure because it combines an athletic challenge with a cause that is close to my heart. Running is one of the things in life that makes me feel my very best.
Running nonstop for four days, living in an RV, managing fatigue and lack of sleep… honestly, that’s not something you do every day! But that’s also what makes this challenge so powerful. Once you commit, there’s no turning back. I want to go all the way with the Tel-jeunes team—for the teens, and to prove to myself that I can keep going, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Samuel
When I joined Tel-jeunes, I was already immersed in the idea of taking on athletic challenges. The Québec 800 felt like a natural fit: an intense, slightly crazy team challenge.
Running isn’t my favorite sport, but I know why I’m here. What will carry me through is the team spirit, the collective momentum, and the feeling that we’re moving forward together—no matter the hour or the fatigue.
Emmanuelle
Running was with me throughout my adolescence, and it continues to help me through more difficult moments in my life. This 100 km challenge is an opportunity to choose myself and see how far my body and mind can go.
What motivates me most is the adventure, the connections, and the group’s energy. I want to bring enthusiasm, attentive listening, and a bit of light to the tougher moments.
Marie-Philippe
I’m used to long distances, but this challenge is different. Running in relay for four days, as a group, requires a different kind of management—the management of the collective.
What I’m discovering in this preparation is how motivating group training can be. Tuesdays have become something I genuinely look forward to. I accepted this challenge for the team, for the cause, and to remind myself why I run when things get really tough.
Flavie
I accepted this challenge because it pushes me completely out of my comfort zone. Four days of running, discomfort, fatigue, and close human connection… it’s intense, but incredibly transformative.
When it gets hard, I remind myself that it’s temporary and that I’m very fortunate to be here. This challenge brings me back to adolescence—to those emotional roller coasters—and that’s exactly why I’m doing it: for the youth.
Xavier
Running 800 km in 4 days with a team of 8 is a huge challenge, both physically and mentally. I’ve always loved sports and pushing my limits, but what motivates me even more here is the meaning behind every kilometre we run.
I know there will be tougher moments, when fatigue and pain start to set in. In those moments, I’ll think about the young people who are facing their own challenges and who keep moving forward despite it all. If they can find the strength to take one more step, then I can take one too. That thought — and the strength of the team — will carry me to the finish.
