Episode 198: Turning abuse into advocacy and a life of inspiration. Jean-Paul (JP) Bedard

Jean-Paul Bédard is an author, advocate, elite endurance athlete, and  was named one of the "50 Most Influential Canadians" by Huffington Post. In 2013, Jean-Paul disclosed to family and friends that he is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and rape. As a result, he turned to long-distance running to help him battle his addiction and mental health issues. Since that time, he has become an international advocate for other survivors of sexual violence.  In 2014, Jean-Paul ran the iconic Boston Marathon twice in the same day in a highly publicized campaign. In 2015 he was awarded the "Golden Shoe Award" for being named "Canadian Runner of the Year".  As a Brooks sponsored athlete and veteran of over 130 marathons and ultra marathons, Jean-Paul represented Canada in the prestigious Comrades Marathon in South Africa, a grueling 90km race through mountainous terrain. In the fall of 2015, Jean-Paul ran the Toronto Waterfront Marathon three times in the same day to demonstrate the resiliency of survivors of trauma.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-trauma-therapist-podcast-with-guy-macpherson-phd-inspiring-interviews-with-thought-leaders-in-the-field-of-trauma/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands