Jean-Paul Bedard will run a Triple Toronto Marathon to “show the resilience of sexual assault survivors.” He wants to raise awareness about sexual abuse — and recovery.

Jean-Paul Bedard will be running the Toronto Waterfront Marathon three times in the same day (126.6 km) — a “triple marathon” — this October 18, 2015. It’s not meant to be a fundraiser, but rather Jean-Paul simply wants to show others “how resilient we are, even after the trauma of sexual violence.” Jean-Paul is a survivor of rape and sexual abuse in childhood.

Over the course of his recovering from the effects of abuse, addiction, and the resultant post-traumatic stress disorder, Jean-Paul discovered running — particularly in marathons — as a passion. He has participated in the Boston Marathon, and witnessed the aftermath of the Boston bombings in 2013.

Today, I have an intimate understanding of what sits in my heart — a burning desire to help facilitate a dialogue in our communities about sexual violence and the impact it can have over a lifetime, not to mention the ripple effect it has on all the lives it touches. — Jean-Paul Bedard

Bedard hopes that his awareness-raising campaign will build upon increasing media reporting about the prevalence of sexual violence and the need to address the countless lives that lay in its wake.

We speak with Jean-Paul Bedard.

639_jean paul bedard_july_02_2015_40
Left-click to listen; right-click to save.

video, twitter

audio | @RunjpRun Jean-Paul Bedard on marathons and awareness http://t.co/uYu8EbAKXJ pic.twitter.com/IrjClWqUKX

— People First Radio (@peoplefirstrad) July 2, 2015