Our lucky stars

Arnaud Soly took on the Leucan Shaved Head Challenge live on his Instagram page in May 2020. Nearly 10,000 people watched the event live. As is his habit, Arnaud’s live feed also featured guest appearances from a dozen public personalities, including Jay Du Temple and Marie-Mai. Arnaud had his head shaved at the end of the video and announced that his Challenge raised the impressive amount of $32,000 for Leucan.

Patrice Michaud became a Defender for cancer-stricken children on February 15, 2021 when he shared a picture of himself wearing the League of Defenders’ cap on his Facebook page.

Geneviève Simard is a Canadian alpine skier who competed in the 2002 and 2006 Olympics games. In 2018, she was a spokesperson for the Leucan Ski Challenge with Félix Séguin, presenter on TVA Sports.

Francisco Randez put his hosting talent forward for the benefit of the cause on many occasions. In 2017, he hosted a shaving site in the region of Montreal. Then, in 2018, he hosted the first Défi des chefs Leucan in Montérégie. Francisco never hesitated to mention Leucan on the radio to raise awareness and promote the cause. Futhermore, he shared a picture of himself wearing the Defenders’ blouson on his personal Facebook page.

Vanessa Pilon also made this incredible gesture as part of her TV show Vrak Attak! in April 2016. “When I became a TV host, a field where image occupies a prominent place, several people warned me that getting my head shaved could compromise my career. So, I gave up on the idea of participating in the Challenge. However, a few months ago, my big sister Geneviève was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. This brutal reminder of how fragile life can be instilled in me the need to go against safe opinions and follow my heart instead.”

In 2021, Vanessa hosted the event broadcast on the Leucan Shaved Head Challenge page on Facebook, during which Les Audacieuses went live under the blade to support cancer-stricken children.

The presenter and comedian rewarded on many occasions, André Robitaille, has the cause close to his heart. In 2016, within the context of his TV show Entrée Principale, he hosted the live shaving of numerous pharmacist-owners affiliated to Proxim. In 2017, he once again welcomed several pharmacist-owners associated with Proxim, as well as members of the public, who got their heads shaved on TV during the live broadcast of Les Échangistes. Just like his guests, he took the opportunity to go under the razor blade, as a concrete sign of solidarity towards cancer-stricken children. In 2020, he participated once more to the Leucan Shaved Head Challenge, this time in the context of his radio program Pétillant et Corsé, at Radio-Canada.

Guillaume Pineault, a humorist beloved by the public, took part in the Leucan shaved head challenge in 2017. He also shared a picture of him wearing the Defenders’ cap on February 15 2018, on the 40^th anniversary of the Association.

Patrick Groulx has been involved with Leucan for nearly 15 years. He participated in the activity Copain d’un jour in 2005 and in 2008. In 2009, he visited cancer-stricken children during Leucan’s Christmas party and in 2011, he, once again, took part in the activity Copain d’un jour.

In 2018, he became a Defender for Leucan by taking a picture with the Defender’s cap and sharing it on his Facebook page.

King Melrose has close to his heart the cause of children with cancer. In 2018, he did freely a show for the Leucan Ski Challenge in Estrie. On the International Childhood Cancer Awareness Day on February 15, King Melrose shared a picture of himself wearing the cap of the Defenders’ campaign.

Moreover, he participated to the activity Copain d’un jour, by meeting with young people living with cancer, with whom he did a creative workshop.

Benjamin Gratton, the son of stand-up comedian Mathieu Gratton and TV host Patricia Paquin, a participant in the docuseries Autiste, bientôt majeur, and the author of a Facebook page on the reality of autism entitled Le monde de Benjamin, took on the Leucan Shaved Head Challenge on August 24, 2020. The 18-year-old overcame his fear of razors to help children afflicted with cancer. His inspirational Challenge raised the impressive amount of $24,000 for Leucan.

In April 2020, François Bellefeuille agreed to bid farewell to his long hair—his signature look since the beginning of his career in stand-up comedy. Thanks to a video with more than 400,000 views, François gave Leucan a huge boost of visibility and became an ambassador for the cause by talking about his Challenge on various TV shows.

2020 kicked off with a bang with host and stand-up comedian Jay Du Temple tackling the Challenge. For the last performance of his tour at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Jay said goodbye to his famous mane in front of 10,000 enthusiastic fans, raising a total of $23,700 for Leucan.

Stéphane Fiset has played 13 seasons in the national hockey league. He has worn, amongst others, the Quebec Nordiques jersey. Now a sports agent, trainor and television sports commentator, he’s also involved in his community and Leucan’s cause is very close to his heart. He has been an honorary president of the Leucan Shaved Head Challenge in Victoriaville and he personally took up the Challenge live on RDS. He also participated in the first family agenda project in Leucan Mauricie-et-Centre-du-Québec. In addition, he has been an ambassador of the first edition Dégustation Vegas Leucan in Victoriaville. The Leucan Mauricie-et-Centre-du-Québec team wants to sincerely thank him for his collaboration and is very happy to be able to count on his support for future projects.

Andréanne A. Malette is the Leucan Money Box Campaign spokesperson since 2013.

She has been involved with Leucan Montérégie even before Star Académie. She has also participated in the launch of the Leucan Shaved Head Challenge in March 2013, by shaving her profile picture in support for cancer-stricken children.

Sébastien Diaz is a host and director from Quebec. The accomplishments of his father as a marathoner 20 years ago inspired him to run a half-marathon for the cause. The event, which took place on April 26, 2015, enabled him to become a Step-by-Step Ambassador for the Run for Leucan’s movement.

In 2018, he became a member of the League of Defenders by taking a picture with the Defender’s cap and posting it on his Facebook page.

Leucan Laurentides-Lanaudière can now count on the support of a media personality within the realisation of its activities and the pursuit of its mission.  It is with great pride that Leucan welcomes Louis Jean, presenter and sports journalist on TVA Sports, as an ambassador for the region of Laurentides-Lanaudière.

M. Jean, resident of the Laurentians, gladly accepted the role of ambassador. He was approached to take part in the Association following his participation in a report made last December, in which he accompanied two teenagers during their treatments at the CHU Sainte-Justine.

“The people who work within Leucan are passionate and committed, but above all, they are big hearted-people who make a difference in the lives of families of cancer-stricken children, in the best and worse of times. It is for all these reasons that it is an honour to get involved as a regional ambassador for Leucan Laurentides-Lanaudière, whom bears a cause that touches me and is very close to my heart.”

Andie Duquette, a singer from Quebec and a contestant of La Voix 2013, believes strongly in Leucan. She is always present for the children and constantly ready to use her network to raise awareness on the reality of families with children with cancer.

Dominic Paquet has been the official spokesperson of the Leucan Shaved Head Challenge since 2012. His commitment to the cause is nothing short of remarkable. Since his first year as a spokesperson for Leucan, Dominic has taken on the Challenge six times. But his commitment to the cause goes way beyond the Leucan Shaved Head Challenge. Dominic is always on hand to support other fundraising campaigns and extend the Association’s outreach.

Félix Séguin is a radio and television sports host. He has run 2 marathons with his Leucan hats in support to one of the Association’s child member.

He is the Run for Leucan campaign spokesperson.

After years of competitions, the three-time Olympic medallist Marianne St-Gelais tackled a different kind of Challenge, the Leucan Shaved Head Challenge, at Marché Central in Montreal on May 25, 2014. Marianne’s campaign struck a chord with Quebecers, raising a total of $15,000. “I remember wanting to get my head shaved for my high school graduation ball. I’m so glad to take on the Leucan Shaved Head Challenge today to finally make that wish come true but, most of all, to support a cause so dear to my heart: children.”

Since 2012, Leucan can count on Annie Villeneuve, well-known singer in the province of Québec, as the godmother of Leucan.

She has been involved with Leucan for many years and always supported cancer-stricken children.

She recorded a song in memory on a young member of Leucan in 2009. She was also one of our spokesperson in 2010-2011 and participated in many activities.