Elite runner Cédric Bolduc owes the orthopedic team at the Montreal Sacré-Cœur Hospital the fact that he can continue doing the sport he loves so much! His story is fascinating. He has relied on orthopedic specialists multiple times to be able to compete in elite-level races.
Dr. Jean-François Bellemare, a physician specialized in general surgery, has operated on him more than once. After-effects from an accident at a very young age and intense sports practice since high school caused all sorts of physical problems that required delicate interventions—interventions that could have significantly reduced his quality of life and hindered his athletic drive.
A father of two children, Cédric is extremely grateful to Dr. Bellemare and Dr. Stéphane Leduc, an orthopedic surgeon. He knows it is thanks to them that he can fully pursue his passion for sports. “I do a lot of sports. Over the years, I participated in several cross-country races. I later started karate. Add running to all of that. Over the years, I started getting a lot of small injuries,” Cédric explained. After no fewer than five operations in the groin area, Dr. Bellemare also successfully removed a cyst that had lodged on the epididymis (an organ in the male reproductive system). Quite an achievement for this physician, whom he considers top-level. Following an infection, Dr. Bellemare had to operate a second time, once again saving his testicle.
Overcoming obstacles, second nature!
All these surgeries were merely obstacles for Cédric, not reasons to stop doing sports. He returned to competition in 2017, after letting some injuries heal. Unfortunately, he tore the peroneal tendons and synovial sheaths of his left ankle. Dr. Marie-Lyne Nault, an orthopedic surgeon on Stéphane Leduc’s team, reconstructed his left ankle, essentially giving him a “new” ankle. “Seven months later, I was at the North American Obstacle Course Championship. And I still performed well,” the athlete proudly said.
He was not out of the woods yet. After this championship, he experienced some problems with his left Achilles tendon. This required a rare surgery: lengthening the Achilles tendon at the calf. Eight months later, he returned to the trails for the Ultra-Trail Harricana, a 65-kilometer mountain race in Charlevoix. He completed the race in 11 hours and 10 minutes, without stopping. “These races usually require a year of preparation, but thanks to Sacré-Cœur and Dr. Stéphane Leduc, we did it.” In 2021, Cédric underwent the same procedure, this time on his right Achilles tendon. “Now, it’s like night and day. It’s going great. It’s really thanks to Sacré-Cœur’s orthopedics team that I can do this amazing sport.”
More recently, Cédric had two operations: one on his nose due to allergic rhinitis, and another on his left knee. Pain while running led him to consult Dr. Therrien, who operated to remove plicae from his knee. Today, Cédric continues to be followed by the orthopedic team at Sacré-Cœur Hospital and is very appreciative of their consistently remarkable work.
A passion that started long ago
Cédric Bolduc’s passion for sports, and running in particular, began in elementary school at Saint-Arsène School. He had a natural talent and excellent cardiovascular capacity. A physical education teacher directed him toward the school’s cross-country team. “Cross-country for kids starts at 1.7 km. Official races were all held at Île Sainte-Hélène. This teacher said, ‘We already have our team, but just come run tonight and see how you do.’ I beat them all. I had never run in my life. The teacher said: ‘You’re joining the school’s elite team.’ Yes, I have a physique that makes it a shame not to take advantage of it.”
It is his love for Sacré-Cœur and obstacle racing that inspired Cédric to create the Sentier de l’Espoir (Trail of Hope). He chose to donate 100% of the profits to the Orthopedic Department of the Sacré-Cœur Hospital of Montreal. Already experienced in event organization and racing, he formed a four-person committee to assist in the organization. “I wanted to create Canada’s first nonprofit trail race and approach local partners to give the maximum amount of money to the Foundation. The goal was to make the event accessible to everyone, not just the elite sports community, and to keep registration costs very affordable.”
Behind the scenes of the Sentier de l'Espoir
Cédric held the first Sentier de l’Espoir in 2022. He demonstrated great determination and perseverance in the face of multiple challenges during the inaugural edition in Laval. When the city forced a last-minute venue change only 24 hours before the event, Cédric and his team had to quickly adapt and be creative to solve emerging problems.
Organizing a fundraising event is not simple. “To organize a race from start to finish, you need resources: suppliers, an organizing team, and funds for infrastructure, refreshment stations, communications, and marketing. That’s what makes the startup difficult. Laval was a test, and I learned a lot,” Cédric admits.
Over the years, Cédric and his team refined their business model to be able to give more money to the Foundation. Each edition introduced new distances, adjusted logistical aspects, or partnered with local sponsors to enrich the event. They remain attentive to feedback from runners. “We really take into account the comments from people who are used to running races. It’s very constructive and helps us improve each year,” says Valérie Leduc, member of the organizing committee and communications director for the event.
Although such an event presents significant challenges—whether with the municipality, logistics, infrastructure, or marketing—the effort is worth it when seeing the funds raised for a good cause and how much people appreciate this trail race.
Today, the Sentier de l’Espoir is an annual event. The energy of the organizing committee, the many partners they have secured, and the participation of runners have raised over $23,000 in four years for the Montreal Sacré-Cœur Hospital Foundation. Cédric is very proud of this entirely volunteer-run event, which continues to gain recognition in Quebec, and which he created from scratch with his tight-knit team.
Cédric is happy to combine his passion for running with his gratitude to the Orthopedic Department of Sacré-Cœur Hospital, making his own trail race a true success. It’s a winning formula for him! The excellent care he received motivates him to continue his involvement: “Doctors at Sacré-Cœur like Dr. Stéphane Leduc and Dr. Hannah Laure Elfassy will follow me for a long time. Thanks to Sacré-Cœur, I am still able to run today, and so are many runners in Quebec, who can practice the most beautiful sport in the world,” Cédric states.
The organizing committee is already planning the fifth edition, aiming to make it remarkable. Cédric wants the Sentier de l’Espoir to grow. He is working to improve the race quality by seeking more partners and bringing new people onto the organizing committee. “As long as I breathe, the Sentier de l’Espoir will exist,” declares Cédric confidently.