Andre Belibi Eloumou, an extreme athlete and cold-therapy proponent from Switzerland, completed part of his journey on April 22 to help raise money to support those with autism and continue training for an upcoming world record attempt for the world’s longest ice bath plunge.
Belibi and his team undertook an ultra-marathon two weekends ago, attempting to run west from Calgary beyond Lake Louise across two days to help raise money for the Team Mason 2021 Foundation.
Belibi is also training his mind and body to break the Guinness World Record for the world’s longest ice bath plunge, which would require him to remain neck-deep in ice-filled water for over three hours and 28 seconds.
It’s a record he hopes to attempt to break later this year.
The recent ultra-marathon originally planned for Belibi to run shirtless from Calgary, along Highway 1A through Cochrane, and just past Lake Louise by 20 kilometres into the Icefield Parkway. Although the two-day run was originally planned for 38 hours, it had to be stretched to four days, and there was some re-jigging of the route partway through.
“It was a great experience,” Belibi said. “When you do something like this to raise awareness for a cause like autism, it is for a worthy cause, because that means it is not always easy. But it is worth it, and when you look at it at the end, it is beautiful.”
Belibi said on his first day of the marathon, he ran around 58 kilometres, after starting out at the Peace Bridge near downtown Calgary.
During his journey along Highway 1A, Belibi was passing through the Stoney Nakoda First Nation. He said he was unaware that he and his team needed authorization to conduct the run in the area, but cleared up any misunderstandings with members of the community before he could continue.
“So, they timely escorted us out of the reserve and at the end of it, they said a prayer and smudged the car for the run,” Belibi said. “I’d like to apologize for having trespassed because we didn’t know, and also we are very grateful for the way they helped and protected us.”
That meant the marathon carried into Sunday, where one of his teammates from the Team Mason 2021 foundation experienced some car troubles. They decided to return to Calgary, where Belibi completed the remaing kilometres to see out his ultra-marathon.
Although Belibi did not complete his original route or reach his fundraising target, he said the event was still a huge success as it helped him raise more autism awareness. It will also help him prepare to break the ice bath world record.
“It was great, it was a learning experience and we shared a positive message with the world,” he said.
Having since returned to Switzerland, Belibi said he plans to return to Canada in May, and he still has his sights set on breaking the ice-plunge world record.
Belibi extended his thanks to his teammates in the foundation, Kristina Kovisto, Pacifique Mangapi of Ocean Tree Care, and Belibi’s friend Chris Mulumba Beya. He would also like to extend thanks to the people of Cochrane, Canmore, and members of the Stoney Nakoda Nation.
“Thank you for your support,” Belibi said. “When you have a good cause in mind, you can achieve anything in mind.”
