“It’s your friggin’ melon man!” the words my good friend, ski guru and occasional coach as well as technical adviser on all things ski, said to me as I balked at the expense of a fine helmet when I was taking up alpine ski racing at the tender age of 38 or so. “Its your head. You should buy the best helmet you can afford!“
WHY WOULDN’T YOU WANT TO PROTECT YOUR HEAD?
Sometimes you need someone just to tell you straight out what to do and state things uber plainly. “Do you have the money” “Yes I have the money” “So why wouldn’t you want to protect your head?”. Sure enough, I have been lucky enough ever since, despite numerous opportunities, to have sustained 0 head or spine injuries (Craig also made me buy a back protector and one for my children, they were also taking up ski racing, and at that time only helmets were obligatory).
Or is it luck? I would say in retrospect that it isn’t luck. It was definitely a conscious decision to make an investment in injury prevention. I was able to afford some of the best equipment available at the time, but it was evident that I dint initially perceive the investment as such, more like an expense to be minimised! I was lucky enough to have Craig step in and give me some guidance in his own unique way. But we dont all have access to our very own intervention in head safety! Someone who was able to make me see buying an appropriate piece of protective equipment as an investment and not an expense.
SIMON POULIN, ISABELLE RICHER, LYNE BESSETTE, JEHANE DAGHER & LOUIS BARBEAU AU LANCEMENT 2È ÉDITION DEFI TÊTE LA PREMIERE
“Sports are healthy, only if you have the presence of mind to protect … your head! As far as I’m concerned, helmets are not a choice, it’s MY decision “- Lyne Bessette, spokesperson for Défi tête la première and nutrition XACT ambassador commented earlier when asked about her motivation for supporting the charity.
SIMPLE. EFFECTIVE. AWESOME.
So one of the fantastic things that Défi tête la première does is not only go out of their way and to reach out to sporting communities, medical and paramedical professions to educate and raise awareness, but they actually turn up in schools and hand out, free of charge, helmets to kids so that they can enjoy their bikes safely. Simple. Effective. Awesome.
DR RICHARD BÉLANGER, SIMON POULIN, FOUNDER OF DÉFI TÊTE LA PREMIÈRE, JEAN-MARIE DE KONINCK
A 500 KM RIDE TO EDUCATE COMMUNITIES ACROSS QUÉBEC
“Défi tete la première” (literally The Head First Challenge) is a fundraising event which aims to raise $ 60,000. All money collected will fund educational activities and awareness of the “outlier de la prevention” organisation. From 27 to 29 May 2016, more than 60 cyclists will ride more than 500 km over three days to raise awareness of the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet. A team of head injury prevention stakeholders, along with various partners, will tour 9 municipalities of Quebec to educate and raise awareness of road safety and the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet.
ENJOY YOUR SPORT MORE. WHOEVER YOU ARE, WHATEVER YOUR SPORT.
At XACT its no secret that we love sport. We think that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy sports, as we believe it makes the world a happier healthier and more fun place. Thats one of the reasons why we got in into the business of making food that helped people enjoy their sport more. Whoever you are, whatever your sport. So it seemed the most natural and awesome of partnerships to support the bouclier prevention and Simon Poulin’s team at Defitetelapremiere.com so that people can enjoy their sports more safely too. Whoever you are, whatever your sport.