Ottawa – Marielle Bégin, a project associate at Edison Engineers Inc., shared her inspiring experience participating in the ParaTough Cup, an event organized by the Paralympic Foundation of Canada (PFC) to raise awareness and funds for Paralympic athletes. Begin’s story highlights the profound impact of this event on her team and the broader community.
Marielle first heard about the ParaTough Cup through her cousin Amanda, who works for Canadian Paralympic Committee partner Toyota Canada. Amanda’s enthusiasm for the event was contagious, sparking a competitive spirit in Marielle.
“I thought it was just going to be a fun family rivalry,” Marielle said, reflecting on how it all began. “But then I realized it was a great opportunity to bring our team at Edison Engineers Inc. together for a greater cause.”
In the course of preparing for the ParaTough Cup Toronto event, presented by Canadian Tire, Marielle and her team learned about the significant differences between the Olympic and Paralympic movements, particularly in terms of funding and support.
“It was really eye-opening to discover the disparities in funding and the challenges Paralympians face,” she explained. “We were shocked to learn how at that time, Paralympic athletes were not rewarded for their Games performance compared to their Olympic counterparts. I was glad to learn at the Toronto event that Paralympians will now be compensated.” In January 2024, the PFC introduced the Paralympic Performance Recognition program that will reward Paralympians for winning medals at the Paralympic Games, funded in part because of team’s, like Edison Engineers Inc., participation in ParaTough Cup events across the nation.
Edison Engineers Inc. took their involvement a step further by not only contributing individually raised funds and a corporate donation, but by also engaging their clients industry contacts through the IGNITE Campaign. Marielle and her team spent a day writing personalized emails to their contractors, explaining the importance of the PFC’s Ignite campaign and seeking donations to support the cause.
Source: https://paralympic.ca/news/