news of another MRI scan. “The tumour had come again for an encore presenta-tion,” sighs Poirier. But this time, the growth was no longer operable, hav-ing invaded the motor cortex and Bro-ca’s area. For the next few months, the 44-year-old fighter will rely on chemo-therapy to combat the malignancy. THE MACHINES Recently, one of Poirier’s clients passed away from a brain tumour. He knew he had to do something to get the word out about brain cancer. Looking at his bikes (he also owns a KTM 450SXF supercross dirt bike), the answer crystallized. “I was then doing fundraising by rid-ing for the OSPCA when the idea hit,” remarks Poirier. “If I can collect money and raise awareness for the plight of cats and dogs, why not the same for brain cancer?” That was the ignition that set Bikers Against Brain Cancer in motion. THE MISSION If Poirier has his way, the ride will become an annual event. Following a second ride that will see local DCs, their staff and fami-lies, and patients roar into Cornwall on June 18, Montreal and Mississauga, Ontar-io, will join in later this year. But, it won’t stop there. Interest in the campaign has come in from municipalities across Canada and the United States. All proceeds will go to the Brain Tumour Foundation. “The concept of the ride expansion can just as easily be done just as well by a motorcycle enthusiast in Alabama,” says Poirier. “At the end of the day, the goal is to get the message out there as much and as fast as possible.” Poirier has developed a website for the ride, www.bikersagainstbraincancer.org, and will personally be visiting bike dealer-ships in the municipalities where rides will be held, to distribute information, bookmarks, pamphlets and posters to potential riders. Poirier has even approached ex-California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, an avid motorcyclist, about lending his endorse-ment to the ride. The two men met on March 5 at the 9th Annual Symposium on Natural Fitness and Sports for 2011, held in partnership with the International Chiropractors Association and Parker Seminars. Schwarzenegger, an advocate for chiropractic who holds an honorary doctorate in chiropractic from Cleveland 34 • CANADIAN CHIROPRACTOR | APRIL 2011 Paul Poirier discusses expanding his brain tumour awareness and fundraising ride with former California governor and body-builder, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Chiropractic College, sees chiropractic as the ultimate profession for natural healing. Because of his regard and support for the profession, and the fact that his own family has been touched by brain cancer, result-ing in the passing of his uncle-by-marriage, Sen. Ted Kennedy, Schwarzenegger agreed to meet with Poirier and discuss the ride and strategies for expanding it. (This was quite a distinction, considering no one was allowed near the ex-governor, a fact that was enforced by stringent security includ-ing bomb-sniffing dogs.) “Had I been in any other profession, I doubt I would have had access to him,” Poirier notes, pleased that he was able to leave his fundraiser’s poster and literature with Schwarzenegger, who agreed to con-sider some mechanism for involvement. Poirier’s meeting with the ex-governor garnered him recognition from various U.S.-based chiropractic groups who fol-lowed up with the Cornwall chiropractor, requesting to interview him for a variety of venues. Among these were Dr. Patrick Gentempo, who has already interviewed Poirier for his audio broadcasts titled “On Purpose,” a popular service with a broad-ranging subscription base. “There are now thousands of Ameri-can chiropractors who’ll also be aware of the movement for brain tumour aware-ness,” says Poirier. “The ride will grow into the U.S. market, sooner now, with all this positive promotion.” At the Fitness and Sports show, Poirier was also able to meet and discuss his fundraiser with several chiroprac-tors as well as fitness and bodybuilding celebrities. He handed out posters and pamphlets, received contact information and literature for DCs and bodybuilders across North America and will be fol-lowing up on these leads in the coming weeks, continuing in his effort to expand the fundraiser from sea to sea on both sides of the border. “Chiropractors interested in raising the awareness of brain tumours in their com-munity just have to follow the marketing recipe checklist in the kit, which includes letterhead, business cards, and pledge forms – it is available at www.bikersagainst braincancer.org,” he explains. Perched on his gleaming V-Max, gear-ing up to ride out on the highway and race with the wind, Poirier looks ahead with confidence. “We all have our glass half-empty moments,” he admits. Then with a determined glint in his eyes, he counters, “But I have no inten-tion of riding off quietly into the sunset.” • www.canadianchiropractor.ca
Chiropractic + Naturopathic Doctor April 2011: Page 34
