Fundraiser

A Firefighter and a Police Officer: One Shared Fight for Life

Overview:

3 cyclists will ride a 200 Km route to raise funds for CCA research, specifically the TIL Therapy.

Meeting point: TBD
Cyclists Departure: Parc Jeanne-Mance, Montréal, QC.
Arrival: Mont Rougemont, St-Damase, QC.

Join us on Saturday May 30 2026 (Time TBD).

You can support this initiative by making a donation to the CHUM foundation here.

Event Background

Sylvain Berthiaume served as a firefighter for the municipality of Saint-Damase from 1996 to 2016. Throughout his career, he was deeply involved not only in fighting fires alongside his fellow firefighters, but also in the community through various activities. Sylvain was a man of action — straightforward, committed, and honest — always ready to lend a helping hand. The uniform always held an important place in his family. The values it represents were an integral part of his sons' upbringing and remain core to the values his sons uphold every day.

Just like his father (a firefighter) and his brother (a police officer), Jonathan followed in their footsteps by becoming a police officer in 2014. Sylvain was not only a father, but also a best friend and number one advisor to his sons — always ready to listen, encourage, and support them. He was a true role model.

Sylvain Berthiaume

In July 2025, Sylvain was hospitalized for jaundice and back pain. The first doctors suspected a gallstone. On July 10, 2025, following medical imaging tests, the diagnosis came: Stage IV Cholangiocarcinoma — a rare and aggressive cancer of the bile ducts that develops silently. The doctors gave him 2 to 4 weeks to live. This cancer does not respond to standard treatments, meaning no treatment was possible for Sylvain. He sadly passed away during the night of July 27, 2025. The illness took him in only 17 days.

Where will the funds go?

Jonathan decided to fight the battle that his father never had the chance to fight. He launched a fundraiser to honor his memory, but also to bring hope to families affected by cholangiocarcinoma in their fight against this disease — under the banner of their uniforms. The project was born:

A Firefighter, A Police Officer: One Common Fight for Life.

This is a fundraising campaign benefiting the research work of Dr. Turcotte at the CHUM in collaboration with the C3, specifically focused on the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma via a promising immunotherapy treatment called Tumour Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TIL) therapy. To learn more about this groundbreaking clinical trial, kindly visit the link here.

Sylvain Berthiaume (left)

and his son, Jonathan Berthiaume (right).

The campaign began on January 27, 2026 and will run until July 1, 2026. As experienced cyclists, Jonathan and his friends decided to take a route of approximately 200 km, incorporating 6 Montéregian Hills, including ascents of several of them. The event will take place on Saturday, May 30, 2026. The departure will take place near the Montreal Fire Department Headquarters, passing through 6 Montéregian Hills, and finishing at the Saint-Damase fire station.

Jonathan Berthiaume

and his son.

The Cycling Team