Englobe, proud sponsor of WindSUP project in support of Relief

This coming spring, Marion Richard, Englobe Civil Design Technician is undertaking a journey like no other. Beginning May 28, he will take to the water with his WindSUP board – a hybrid sport that is a cross between paddle boarding and windsurfing – all in the name of mental health.

In collaboration with Relief, a Québec-based initiative raising funds to help children and young adults with anxiety and depression, Marion will travel from St-Laurent-de-l’Île-d’Orléans to Gaspé, located at the easternmost tip of the Gaspésie peninsula. In a straight line, the course is about 700 km, but since it’s very difficult to keep a steady trajectory while windsurfing, Marion expects to do about 1,400-1,500 km in total to get to his destination.

While he intends to make a few stops in villages along the coast, this is solely to sleep in his tent at local campsites, and to replenish his food supply which he’ll carry with him in a bag on his board. To achieve his goal of raising $50,000 for Relief, Marion plans to travel about 50 km per day and hopes to complete the course within a couple of weeks.

“It will be cold, it will be painful, and at times, it will feel like a very long journey, but nothing compares to the distress that can be caused by anxiety,” explains Marion, “A big thank you to my sponsors, donors, colleagues and friends who are all supporting me in this adventure.”

His biggest wish is to raise enough money to enable Relief to begin a new suicide prevention program in schools. WindSUP is the tangible result of his passion for windsurfing and his desire to help people.

At Englobe, we care about our communities, our teammates and our clients. Radical caring may be one of our new values, but it represents well who we've always been. Marion's WindSUP challenge is a perfect example of this. Through his actions, he is daring to make a difference in the lives of many children and young adults who are fighting against anxiety every day.

“Life is a gift. Happiness is a quest. We achieve it by making the right decisions.” added Marion.

You can join Englobe in supporting Marion in his charitable adventure by learning more about it, or by making a donation here.