The real heroes of the impossible2Possible Youth Expeditions are the Youth Ambassadors. They not only defy any perceived physical or mental barriers in their own lives, but they truly inspire the thousands of students who follow their every step during an expedition.

These Youth Ambassadors will lead positive social action and are therefore ideal role models for today's youth. They are joined by the i2P Expedition Team; a group of passionate individuals that volunteer their time before, during and after expeditions. See links below for details!

Youth Ambassadors

Expedition Team

Education & Research Team

Logistics Team

Jesus Perez

"Hi guys, I’m Jesús. Yes, that’s actually my name! I live in Philadelphia, USA, and I’m a second-year student at the University of Pennsylvania studying International Relations. I’ve lived in two different countries so far, and my goal is to experience as many cultures in the world as I can. I love going on adventures, so being an i2P Youth Ambassador is such an incredible honor for me – and I’m even more excited to share this journey with you.

"Before I moved to the United States, I was born and raised in Puerto Rico - a small island in the Caribbean archipelago. It was there that I really started doing sports at a young age. After being a pretty bad basketball player one summer, I joined a Judo team, and that’s where I found my passion! For over seven years, I competed in this crazy combat sport until I was good enough to be a three-time national champion and go on to compete in international tournaments. Then in the US, I took on wrestling and swimming as my main two sports in high school. Now as a 19-year old in college, I really appreciate the value that sports bring to our everyday lives. Athletics taught me teamwork, commitment, and being able to push yourself to the limit.

"On campus at UPenn, I am involved in student government as president of my class while also volunteering at a hospital every other week. I’m an early riser in the morning, and I am almost always busy, but on my free time, I enjoy trying new restaurants (I’m a huge foodie!) and exploring Philly with my friends. Joining Team Atacama and running a marathon a day for a week is an bold challenge – but I’m willing to tackle it along our amazing team of Youth Ambassadors. If I've learned anything from sports and moving to a entirely different country, it’s that you can do anything you set your mind to, whether that’s learning a new language or trying a new sport (not basketball in my case!). Together with i2P’s educational program, this expedition is sure to teach us all good lifetime lesson: we can do the impossible!!!!"

Alessandro Aime

Alessandro grew up in Robecco (Italy) and spent his grade school years involved in a variety of sport such as swimming, running and climbing but with the dream to practice cycling (he couldn't because of scoliosis). When he was 15 he was overweight, but when the doctor allowed him to practice cycling he started to study nutrition by his own and lost all the extra weight becoming a cyclist; then at 18 he switched to triathlon. Now he continues his triathlon career in U23 ranks and is currently in his freshman year at the University of Milan studying Food Science and Technology in order to become a nutritionist, and help people to be healthier.

Since he was young he loved endurance races and his dream is to compete in Ironmans, maybe winning his age-group category, open water races and ultramarathons continuing to improve his own limits. Alessandro is excited to have been chosen as a Youth Ambassador for Atacama, he knows that this is a unique opportunity to make one of the best experiences of ever: know a new place, new people and try to leave a footprint for help someone. And the last but not the least becoming a part of a team!

Valerie Gagne

Salut! My name is Valérie and I am from Montreal, Quebec. At 21 years old, I am a second-year student at Université de Montréal in Physical Education.

Growing up in an active family, I developed a love for sports and the outdoors that has always guided me in life. As a kid, I experienced a variety of sports including downhill skiing, basketball and soccer, but I really got hooked on cross-country skiing and running. In the summer, I competed in track and field where I broke the regional track record for 2000m in 2004. My time still stands as the fastest in that age category. In cross-country running, I represented Quebec at the Canadian University Championships where we placed 3rd as a team. In the winter, my focus shifted over to cross-country skiing where I competed on the Quebec and Canada Cup circuits. During these years, I also tried my hand at triathlons. I was a terrible swimmer, but was good enough on the biking and running sections to go unbeaten for 2 years on the Quebec circuit. I have always been drawn to new challenges and so, almost two years ago, I started rowing with the national program ‘‘Row to Podium’’. I am now retired from high-performance sports and look forward to going on new adventures. I am delighted to have been chosen as an i2P Youth Ambassador to keep pushing my limits.

I developed an interest in education when I helped conduct an 18 day limit pushing and challenging expedition. I was, under the supervision of 3 accomplished teachers/adventurers, in charge of leading a group of 40 students in an adventure consisting of hiking, canoeing, rock-climbing, kayaking, running and biking all while learning about the region's ecosystem. Also, in april 2012, my mother and I went to Rwanda. There, we helped out at an orphanage and were so touched by all these children that on the plane back home, my mom and I made a promise to each other; we would build a school so that the children form the orphanage and the community could have access to education. Back in Canada, we raised money and in January 2013, the 3 classroom school was open for 60 kids.

Someone once asked me what I want to be remembered as. I didn’t really know what to answer, but one thing is clear in my mind; I want people to think of me and believe that they can achieve anything they set their minds to. Expedition ATACAMA will probably be my biggest challenge so far, but I am looking forward to making the impossible, in fact, possible.

Stephen Lambert

My name is Stephen, and I am from Goderich, Ontario. I am 20 years old, and currently in my third year of Nursing at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.

I am the youngest child in a big family who loves to travel, and as a result I am beyond excited to be a part of the i2P expedition to the Atacama Desert in Chile! Backpacking part of Europe this past summer has opened my eyes to the world of travel, visiting new and exciting places, and immersing myself in foreign cultures. As a member of the social justice team in high school, I gained a keen interest in learning about social justice issues worldwide. On this expedition, I look forward to putting my knowledge into practice, and expanding my horizon through i2P’s incredible educational program.

As I continue my third year, I could not be more pleased with my decision to study nursing. Through my clinical placements, I have had the opportunity to be in the hospital caring for a variety of different individuals, and this has become my biggest passion. I just finished my placement in pediatrics, which has been my favourite so far. Showing compassion to others is something I strive for whether I am in the hospital setting, the community or with my family.

Growing up the youngest of my siblings, I developed a competitive nature, which has helped me to achieve the goals that I set for myself. I have always been an active person and involved in many different sports – swimming, soccer, running, volleyball, and skiing. In my final two years of high school, I was a dedicated member of the cross-country running team, the Nordic skiing team, the tennis team, and captain of the rugby team. Athletics continues to be a major part of my life at university, as I train with the Nordic ski team and have been a member of different intramural teams including soccer, volleyball, dodgeball, and inner tube water polo.

My father is a marathon runner, and growing up he has taught me the value of training hard to accomplish my goals as a runner, and has inspired me to push myself beyond my perceived limits. I ran my first half-marathon in May 2012, and since then I have competed in two others, which have been my favourite athletic experiences. Through my athletic and academic experiences so far, I have learned the importance of effective teamwork, leadership, and determination in reaching my goals. I am excited knowing that through i2P’s program, so many young people will share in our experiences and learn through our exploration! I can’t even express how grateful I am to be part of the incredible i2P Team as we gear up for an amazing adventure!

Florence Reyonolds

Kia ora! I’m Florence (or Flo) from Aotearoa, New Zealand. I was born in England, but moved over here at the age of five. Now I’m 21 and am currently living in Auckland. I’ve loved the opportunity to get amongst the beauty of the NZ environment whenever I get a chance. I come from an active family and have been running, tramping and playing sport since I could walk. Until last year I was a competitive track and cross country athlete, but have since turned my attention to offroad trails in order to fulfil my drive for adventure. I’m currently embarking on my fourth year of a BA/BSc double degree at The University of Auckland, specialising in Psychology and Ecology.

I’m passionate about environmental and social justice and have been involved with several NGOs, including P3 Foundation, Generation Zero and Generation Waking Up. Within these organisations, and my job at a museum, I’m enthusiastic about non-traditional learning experiences. This has been sparked by my own experiences of experiential education and the value for education I’ve inherited from my parents who are teachers.

Recently, I’ve become passionate about the issue of single-use plastic consumption and waste. I’ve since attempted to live for a year without consuming single-use plastic and started an organisation, Plastic Diet, to address these issues. I was also part of a youth-led Plastic Bottle Kayak expedition in 2013 that constructed kayaks out of recycled plastic bottle and paddled 100km down the Whanganui River, as a leadership adventure and an awareness-raising stunt (Youtube it!).

I feel extremely honoured and excited (as well as a wee bit nervous!) to be part of the I2P Atacama expedition and be able to connect to so many students around the world. I can’t wait to learn and push my limits alongside the rest of the team!

Ray Zahab

In 2006/7, Ray and two other runners ran the entire width of the Sahara Desert-7500 kms (4600 miles) in 111 days with no rest days-and in the process learned of the seriousness of the water crisis in Africa. The run was documented in a film directed by Oscar winner James Moll and narrated by Matt Damon. One of the goals of the film is to raise awareness for the water crisis in Africa. Ray is an established ultra marathoner and speaker who uses his athletic career to support intiatives and causes he believes in. Ray is official Athletic Ambassador for the ONEXONE organization and is a board member of the Ryan's Well Foundation. Ray has completed 8 major expeditions to date and was recently a member of the South Pole Quest, the Siberian Express teams and in early 2011 ran the length of the Atacama Desert. He recently crossed the Gobi Desert and is the host of The Project and To The Edge TV series. He is the founder of impossible2Possible. Visit RayZahab.com.

Bob Cox

Bob Cox is the Executive Director of impossible2Possible. He has been in athletics all of his life (a lifelong surfer with nearly 10 years in the surf industry) and has recently found his stride in endurance endeavors such as the Canada OnexOne, the Oceanside 70.3 Triathlon, multiple 50k's, and the San Francisco 24hour footrace race with a top ten finish. He spent much of his youth surfing in the Pacific Ocean and from those experiences his passion for our big blue planet was formed. Bob earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science with an emphasis on Public Policy from California State University, Northridge. His appreciation for clean drinking water grew from his profession as a potable and recycled water Cross Connection Specialist in California. In October 2007, Bob met Ray at a Livestrong event in Texas and from that moment he knew his life had changed. From that day forward the two men have dedicated their lives to the message and ideals of i2P.

Brad Smith

Brad is an experienced Human Resources Executive with one of the largest companies in Canada. He has an extensive background in Board of Director management, talent and organizational development and cultural change management. Brad enjoys all of the time he can get outdoors with his wife and two wonderful kids. As a lifelong athlete he has played elite hockey, baseball and is an avid participant in Ironman 70.3 and other endurance events. Brad has a passion for youth development. As an educator at the university level, working with i2P and the Duke of Edinburgh leadership award program he is fortunate to be able to help youth expand their horizons and reach their potential. He has earned an Executive Masters in Business Administration from the University of Ottawa, a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) Degree from the University of Manitoba and a Human Resources and Compensation Committee Certification from The Directors College and McMaster University.

Jay Solman

Jay is the Ombudsperson at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Vancouver, BC and a seasoned ultramarathoner. Jay started running 8 years ago to get fit. Running has since become a passion and he has competed in marathons and ultramarathons all over the world. Jay is driven to use running to help others and make a difference in the world. Inspired by a friend's granddaughter who has cystic fibrosis Jay formed Team Trailwinders along with fellow ultra runners Lara Rintoul and Marc Bremner. In 2009 the team competed in the 250km Sahara Race and raised thousands for Variety Children's Charities. Passionate about our youth programs, Jay has been coordinating the relationship between i2P and SFU.

Ciara Morgan-Feir

On clear nights, Ciara stares up at the sky and feels a connection to the distant cosmic bodies that fill our universe. Her passion for astronomy drives her hunger for learning and sharing, and she's a people-person with infectious enthusiasm. Having just completed her BSc in biology and health sciences at SFU, Ciara is excited to move on to new adventures, starting with Expedition Atacama! Ciara loves to learn, be it through classes, peers, colleagues, or having her views challenged in a lively debate. Her love of learning is only matched by her love of helping expand young minds. She loves to use her passion for astronomy as a tool to help people begin to explore all areas of science, and eventually, help them find their own passions!

When her head isn't in the heavens, it's deep into social justice and health promotion. She combines these passions in her work in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside - Canada's poorest postal code - where she helps coordinate a health and healing centre called Aboriginal Front Door Society.

Ciara's favourite colour is purple, her favourite food is ice cream, and she's so excited to a part of the i2P team!

Kathy Adams

Kathy is a Senior Environmental Specialist with ESSA Technologies Ltd. in Canada where she is responsible for reviewing environmental and social impact assessments and management plans in a variety of industry sectors. Kathy takes an active role in defining the relationships of i2P's many partners as it pertains to corporate social responsibility policies and initiatives. An experienced ultra marathoner, Kathy has participated in 2 of the i2P Youth Expeditions as both a mentor and coordinator. Kathy also continues to pursue her own athletic goals, with planned running expeditions in the future.

Ferg Hawke

Ferg is a 53 year old father of two children, Carter age 21, and Connie age 18. He lives in South Surrey British Columbia with Cheryl his wife of 26 years. Ferg has been competing in triathlon, marathon and ultra marathons since 1989.

His triathlon resume includes a 9:27 Ironman and a third place finish at the three day Ultraman Triathlon World Championships in Kona Hawaii. Ferg has run a 3:01 marathon split at the Ironman and a 6:44 clocking in the double marathon leg of the Ultraman. Ferg also competed for Canada as a member of the Canadian National Triathlon team in 1991, representing Canada at the World Triathlon Championships in Surfer's Paradise, Australia.

In the sport of ultra marathon Ferg finished first place in the inaugural Eagle 100 miler, Canada's toughest trail run. In the world-renowned classic multi-stage Marathon des Sables, held in the Sahara desert in Morocco, his eighth place performance is the highest ever by a North American. Ferg has twice finished 2nd overall that the 135 mile Badwater Ultramarathon held in Death Valley California. Ferg has also worked on the "Run For One Planet" team as a physical trainer and nutrition consultant during Matt Hill and Stephanie Tait's amazing 11,000 mile run around North America. Ferg has been involved in several i2P Youth Expeditions.

Cristian Sieveking

I have been involved in sports all my life beginning with snow ski, water ski, triathlon, tennis, racquetball, squash, mountain biking, archery, trekking, windsurfing, sailing and running roads, trails and mountains. I started running on April 1975 while living in Orlando Florida, doing road races since 1978 being the first one The Orlando Tangerine Bowl Half Marathon.

By accident I started running on mountains and trails in 1978 in the Chilean Andes while on vacations, since I was living in Florida USA I did not get a chance to run on hills during the year, but as soon as I got back to Chile I would go back to the climbs.

I have logged almost 70,000 kilometers uninterrupted since I started, I have done hundred of races being the most important, 4 times K42 Adventure Marathon in the Argentinean Patagonia, 2 times the Andes Crossing 100k from Argentina to Chile, Boston Marathon, 2 times the Easter Island marathon, 2 times the Lican-Ray Villarrica 70K, Valle Nevado 46k Climb, 52k Laguna de Aculeo, and 2 times the Atacama Crossing 250k self supported race.

Cris has provided logistics lead for all i2P Youth Expeditions in South America.

Emma Morley

Emma is currently in her third year at Brigham Young University studying neuroscience. Following her undergraduate degree she plans to continue her education with graduate school and eventually establish a career in research. Emma hails from Minnesota where she grew participating in swimming, cross country, Nordic skiing, track and field, and intramural volleyball. In high school she acted as captain for her cross country and track teams and was awarded the cross country Most Valuable Athlete award during her senior year. Throughout college she has competed with the BYU Triathlon Club as well as individually in triathlons, road and trail races, obstacle races, and bike treks. As a student living part-time in the Midwest and part-time in Utah's mountainous backyard she enjoys hiking, running, rock climbing, biking, skiing, and taking advantage of whatever other adventures present themselves. She has always appreciated the importance of athletics and because of this has made them a major component in her life.

Emma is a program director for a BYU service group called Brighter Horizons that recruits volunteers to work with at-risk youth through community service projects. She has also volunteered with the BYU 2ft Prosthetics Club that seeks to develop functional and low-cost lower limb prosthetics for amputees in third world countries. Through her involvement in university functions such as these Emma has gained a greater understanding for the ongoing social issues both close to home and around the world. With this in mind, she is ever grateful for the opportunities that have come her way and uses them as a means to contribute her support in aiding these issues.

An alumni i2P Youth Ambassador for Expedition Utah, Emma is excited to challenge herself with such an incredible adventure and use it as an instrument to educate, inspire, and empower youth around the world. She is anxious to expand her limits and teach the reality that through vision, work, and persistence positive change is within the reach of us all.

Heather Roe

Heather has been working as Ray's assistant for the last two years, an adventure in itself that has brought to light so many amazing life lessons and personal moments of inspiration. Getting the opportunity to now join the logistics team and work front lines on expedition planning is such an honor and thrill! Heather left a 10 year career in high tech business development 9 years ago to raise her children, photograph life, volunteer and pursue happiness. She is the first to say 'I believe I am achieving it!' Heather has been involved with youth programs for the last 7 years, most recently as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Osgoode Youth Association and currently as the Race Director of the organization's biggest fundraising run, The 'Goode Run. Also as a volunteer, she regularly leads youth-focused learn to run programs in her rural community and thrives on helping and seeing young people succeed at something they might have thought impossible and being there for the moment when they come to realize their own amazing abilities! Heather's greatest passions are family, photography, running and now being part of the i2P team! "I really truly believe that life is all about the journey! It molds every part of who we are. I try my best to make mine a happy one!"

Jean-Philippe Turgeon

Jean-Philippe Turgeon is developing the francophone wing of i2P. He brings with him over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry as a manager to many high profile artists, and an established reputation as an event and television producer in Quebec.

Jean-Philippe is also a devoted father, a spirited adventurer and a disciplined triathlete. He launched his amateur athletic career in 2012 when - in the span of that first year - he ran two half marathons and obtained the “Trifecta” medal for completing the three distances of Spartan races. He will compete this coming June in the Tremblant Ironman 70.3. His desire to challenge himself and inspire others to reach for their dreams is also in line with the pedagogical approach he takes as a professor at the École nationale de l’humour de Montréal where he teaches career management.

Jean-Philippe will be developing i2P for French speaking students in Quebec and around the world. For him, developing the francophone wing is a mission to make the incredible work of i2P accessible to as many young people as possible, regardless of the language they speak.

Zachary Shields

Zachary Shields is an Independent filmmaker based in Indianapolis, IN and Washington, DC. He is currently the owner of Nischan Pictures Inc. (www.nischanpictures.com) His passion is to be in the field shooting stories as they unfold. Zachary has covered the Indonesian and Haitian earthquake zones, i2P Bolivia and Utah expeditions, as well as untouched Alaskan rivers to tell stories of the power of nature and the outdoors. Most recently his short documentary, Awful Grace, was an official selection at the Indianapolis International Film Festival. Zachary won a Webby Award in 2006 for an innovative web documentary covering the untold stories of the devastating 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia. When he's not in a hospital having tendons reconnected, he sometimes flies helicopters with cameras on them. Zach is the Director of Production of To The Edge.

Blair Yachetti

Blair is outgoing, adventurous and determined, he comes from a background of athletics as he played football for 15 years of his life. He studied the field of Leisure Sciences with clusters in marketing and business at Concordia in Montreal and actively volunteers. Blair was also a member of the Stingers and played the role of a team Captain with the York lions leading them to their first win in 3 years. Blair was recently casted for the hit TV series The Project Guatemala which had him building an orphanage for 42 days in the mountains of Guatemala. In result, for exemplifying tremendous leadership and selflessness he was awarded the opportunity of joining the i2P team as a motivating force for the youth ambassadors. He's honoured to be a part of the team and is ready to make an impact with i2P looking forward.

Paul Adams

Paul is a marine engineer and has travelled the world for over 20 years. His work has involved moving of semi submersible oil rigs, laying subsea fibre optic cable and towing icebergs. He has supported Ray since 2006/7 when Ray ran across the Sahara Desert. In 2012, Paul volunteered as support with the i2P youth expedition to Bolivia. He is an avid outdoor enthusiast and enjoys encouraging others to achieve their goals. He helps make the expeditions run smoothly by assisting In all aspects of camp and day to day operations including checkpoints, motivating runners and providing Tabasco sauce.

Don Kelliher

Hola! My name is Don Kelliher. I was born and raised in the Bronx, New York and am currently living in Ridgefield, Connecticut with my wife Paula and son, Eric. I graduated from Pace College in 1968 and attended graduate school at the National University of Mexico where I completed my post graduate degree in PreColombian History and Archaeology. I have traveled and photographed the majority of the archaeological sites of Mexico, Guatamala, Honduras and Peru. While at these sites, my main focus was the architecture and the physical orientation of the structures with celestial events, as well as urban planning in Mesoamerica.

After graduation from Pace College, I taught Bilingual Social Studies and served as Dean of Students at Morris H.S. In the South Bronx from 1968 to 2002 when I retired. During that time, I coached Varsity Boy's and Girl's Basketball and Tennis. After retiring, I trekked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and the Mt. Everest Trail to Everest Base Camp. I have also volunteered with Racing The Planet in the Sahara (twice), Vietnam Nan, the Gobi and the Atacama. Recently I have worked as the assist. Camp Manager at Grand2Grand in Utah and Arizona. This is the first time I will be working with Ray Zahab and I2P. I am looking forward to serving as Camp Manager and interacting with the youth ambassadors.

Dr. Ewan Affleck

Ewan brings the combined skills of physician, administrator and ultra runner to the i2P team. A graduate of the McGill School of Medicine, and Dalhousie University where he studied history, he has worked and lived in Northern Canada since 1992. He is the long serving Medical Director of the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority and Clinical Director of Family Medicine at Stanton Territorial Hospital. He has conceived designed and implemented numerous successful Health Information Technology projects. He maintains an active clinical practice, providing both hospital based and remote community services. He is passionate about designing sustainable health services for remote northern communities. Ewan has been running for many years, and much prefers to run on snow than on asphalt. He served as the Medical Director for the 2008 Arctic Winter Games, and volunteered as a physician at the Vancouver Olympics. He has won 2 northern ultra marathons. Based on his commitment to physical fitness he was one of 20 Canadian physicians selected by the Canadian Medical Association to carry the Olympic Torch. He is married and has 2 children who share his passion for sport.

Dr. George R. Agnes

George is a faculty member at Simon Fraser University in the Department of Chemistry. He is currently serving the SFU community in an additional role as Associate Dean of Graduate Studies where he is a member of a team responsible for oversight in the training experiences for over 4,500 students in the graduate program. Graduate students working in his research laboratory are engaged in technology development and applications of soft ionization mass spectrometry, and chemistry in container-less environments using levitation techniques. An application of the latter is particulate air pollution where they are developing the capacity to quantitatively learn what lung tissue inflammation occurs as a function of the chemistry of mimics of tropospheric particles that are created in the laboratory. Beyond his passion for alpine skiing, windsurfing, and cycling up Burnaby Mountain to SFU every day, George can also be found coaching one or more of the hockey and lacrosse teams that his boys play on. George and Jay Solman are exploring varied training opportunities for university students with the objective of developing a synergistic collaboration with i2P.

Adriana Rossi

Adriana Rossi has been passionate about developing Leadership in youth for 20 years. She has worked extensively in both the private and public secondary school system initiating programs such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award and outdoor education and leadership programs. Adriana holds a Masters of Arts in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University in British Columbia and a Bachelors Degree in Physical Education from McGill University in Montreal. In addition she is the president of Leadership Ventures which focuses on sustainable leadership development within organizations. She is an avid outdoor enthusiast, triathlete and enjoys spending time with her family.

Matt Howe

Matt, an outdoor enthusiast is a husband and father of two adventurous young children. He is a passionate educator who has worked in public education for the past 10 years. After receiving his B.A. in Sociology with an emphasis in criminology and law, he earned his Masters in Education from the University of Minnesota. A lifelong resident of Stillwater, Minnesota, Matt currently works as an information savvy technology coordinator and strives to help teachers develop strategies to work with our digital generation.

Several years of a 1:1 learning environment has allowed Matt to develop an understanding of key learning theories and methods of instruction within educational technology. As a technology advocate, Matt has had the opportunity to present on a local and state level as well as to visitors from around the world.

In 2009, Matt was selected as an Apple Distinguished Educator which has allowed him to further his role as an author, advisor, ambassador and advocate of technology through experiential learning opportunities on a global platform. Matt continues to engage learners on their path to the possibilities of being a part of the next big thing!

Brad Smith

Brad is an experienced Human Resources Executive with one of the largest companies in Canada. He has an extensive background in Board of Director management, talent and organizational development and cultural change management. Brad enjoys all of the time he can get outdoors with his wife and two wonderful kids. As a lifelong athlete he has played elite hockey, baseball and is an avid participant in Ironman 70.3 and other endurance events. Brad has a passion for youth development. As an educator at the university level, working with i2P and the Duke of Edinburgh leadership award program he is fortunate to be able to help youth expand their horizons and reach their potential. He has earned an Executive Masters in Business Administration from the University of Ottawa, a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) Degree from the University of Manitoba and a Human Resources and Compensation Committee Certification from The Directors College and McMaster University.

Derrick Spafford

Derrick is a trail, mountain, snowshoe and ultra marathon runner. He has been running competitively for over 30 years, including the past 22 years without missing a day of running. Derrick has competed in distances from 800 meters on the track up to 100-mile trail races and multi-day stage races. His current passion is the 100-mile distance. He has a number of podium finishes to his credit including wins at the Haliburton Forest 100 mile, Finger Lakes 50 mile and Seaton Trail 52 km.

Derrick's enthusiasm for running is also evident by his work with runners of all levels. As owner of Spafford Health and Adventure (www.HealthandAdventure.com), Derrick gets to pass on his knowledge not only to his coaching clients, but also through writing for various publications, organizing trail and snowshoe races, and through the promotion and sales within the sport of snowshoe running. Having coached runners in the past at the high school and club level, Derrick is especially looking forward to working with i2P Youth Ambassadors in the future.

Jill Gilday

Jill is still riding the wave of positive energy and enthusiasm after being a youth ambassador for Running Tunisia 2010. On the trip she was inspired by all of her incredible teammates and learned that if you want to make a difference the hardest part is taking the first step. Since the expedition she has opted out of the idea of the 'first step' and instead jumped head first into initiatives that she feels passionate about. An avid outdoor enthusiast, she enjoys any activity that involves breathing fresh air and hopes to try out adventure racing and ultra running when she is finished speed skating. Along with continuing her studies in kinesiology and psychology, and continuing to pursue her goals in short track, Jill is excited to take on this new role with i2P!

Jay Solman

Jay is the Ombudsperson at Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Vancouver, BC and a seasoned ultramarathoner. Jay started running 8 years ago to get fit. Running has since become a passion and he has competed in marathons and ultramarathons all over the world. Jay is driven to use running to help others and make a difference in the world. Inspired by a friend's granddaughter who has cystic fibrosis Jay formed Team Trailwinders along with fellow ultra runners Lara Rintoul and Marc Bremner. In 2009 the team competed in the 250km Sahara Race and raised thousands for Variety Children's Charities. Passionate about our youth programs, Jay has been coordinating the relationship between i2P and SFU.

John Zahab

John is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and a Certified Personal Trainer through the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. He has worked full time in the strength and conditioning field for over ten years, and has had the opportunity to work with athletes from a broad spectrum of sports, including those competing and performing at the national and professional levels. Recent career highlights include the development of strength and conditioning programs, which assisted two Canadian athletes to qualify and compete at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. John has developed his training philosophy to provide targeted training for each individual's needs - based on a foundation of stability and control, functional movement, and balanced strength while progressing towards performance goals. John organizes the training programs for the Youth Ambassadors.

For almost half of his lifetime John has trained for and has competed in a variety of disciplines of endurance sport. Some areas where he has pushed his endurance limits include: Triathlon (Olympic Distance to Ironman Distance), Bike Racing (Road), Adventure Racing, and Trail Running.

Mike Stashin

Mike Stashin is a distance runner based in Ottawa Canada who has used running as a gateway for adventures that have included races along the Great Wall of China, at the North Pole and in the Sahara Desert.

Mike's passion has been teaching runners how to incorporate efficient running technique to reduce the amount of effort, chance of injury and recovery time. Mentally runners benefit knowing they can rely on their technique rather than brute strength when facing and overcoming challenging distances.

John Toth

Lieutenant Colonel John Toth is a former United States Army Infantry Officer with over 21 years experience leading soldiers in challenging situations around the globe. During his career, John served tours in South Korea and Egypt, and was deployed to combat in Iraq. His assignments included the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions as well as the Pentagon. He is a graduate of the rigorous U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Parachutist and Pathfinder. An expert trainer and mentor, he recently completed his final assignment as the Professor of Military Science at the University of Colorado at Boulder where he was responsible for training future officers for the Army. He holds a Masters degree from the prestigious School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. A devoted husband and proud father of two boys, he resides in Boulder, Colorado where he can share his passion for cycling, the outdoors, and world traveling with his family.

LTC Toth is currently the Senior Director for Veterans Programs at Veterans Green Jobs, a Denver, CO based non-profit dedicated to helping post 9-11 veterans find meaningful jobs in the green sector.

Zachary Shields

Zachary Shields is an Independent filmmaker based in Indianapolis, IN and Washington, DC. He is currently the owner of Nischan Pictures Inc. (www.nischanpictures.com) His passion is to be in the field shooting stories as they unfold. Zachary has covered the Indonesian and Haitian earthquake zones, i2P Bolivia and Utah expeditions, as well as untouched Alaskan rivers to tell stories of the power of nature and the outdoors. Most recently his short documentary, Awful Grace, was an official selection at the Indianapolis International Film Festival. Zachary won a Webby Award in 2006 for an innovative web documentary covering the untold stories of the devastating 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia. When he's not in a hospital having tendons reconnected, he sometimes flies helicopters with cameras on them. Zach is the Director of Production of To The Edge.

Heather Thorkelson

Heather managed a private school staff of 15 in Mexico, toured Australia with one of Canada's rock royalty as a north Indian classical tabla player, swooped into South Africa to bring social media savvy to an HIV non-profit, launched a duo of online jewelry & handbag shops, and even sold mailbox supplies in Vancouver back in the beginning when I was dirt poor and living in a converted garage.

Heather has traveled to every continent on earth, rocked (and then fled) the corporate world, and then became a certified coach through the Coaches Training Institute. These days, she lives in Lima, Peru - two blocks from the beach, with no plans to leave.

Dean Rowland

Dean is a Grade 7 Teacher at Osoyoos Elementary in Osoyoos BC, Canada. He learned about I2P through an online interview with Ray in 2012. The following school year he followed both the Botswana and Utah expeditions with his class and found the experiences fit perfectly into the Inquiry / Project Based and Personalised Learning approach he is using with his students to meet learning outcome goals.

Dean completed his first marathon at the end of his first year of teaching in 2000. He has since completed an endurance event each year as a means to keep himself sharp and motivated. The events have included multiple marathons, a fifty mile ultra, and 2 Ironman Canada finishes. He will also be participating in the first running of the Challenge Family Ironman in Penticton BC in August 2013.

Dean has embraced the I2P message this past year and has found the expeditions provide an incredible springboard to share his love of fitness with his class, school and community. Leading up to Expedition Utah, over 50% of the student population at Osoyoos Elementary participated in Ray’s Run Challenge Training Program that culminated in a community 5K run that raised over $4000 to help re-build the school playground!

Kent Keeler

Kent works in business programming in the public sector, and has an educational background in Environmental Studies and an MBA. As a runner, he was inspired by Ray Zahab’s expeditions. As a proud father of 2 amazing kids, he hopes his kids will someday be lucky enough to be part of something as amazing as i2P. From the time he first read about the organization, Kent knew he wanted to be a part of it. Too old to be an ambassador, he feels fortunate to play a role as a volunteer on the team.

Kent grew up playing in the outdoors, and still spends as much time as he can running and riding bikes. He is currently focused on the ultra running world with races up to 50 Miles under his belt, and dreams of 100 milers pacing through his mind. He brings business and project management experience to the team and loves the opportunity to contribute and learn a lot along the way.

Jean-Philippe Turgeon

Jean-Philippe Turgeon is developing the francophone wing of i2P. He brings with him over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry as a manager to many high profile artists, and an established reputation as an event and television producer in Quebec.

Jean-Philippe is also a devoted father, a spirited adventurer and a disciplined triathlete. He launched his amateur athletic career in 2012 when - in the span of that first year - he ran two half marathons and obtained the “Trifecta” medal for completing the three distances of Spartan races. He will compete this coming June in the Tremblant Ironman 70.3. His desire to challenge himself and inspire others to reach for their dreams is also in line with the pedagogical approach he takes as a professor at the École nationale de l’humour de Montréal where he teaches career management.

Jean-Philippe will be developing i2P for French speaking students in Quebec and around the world. For him, developing the francophone wing is a mission to make the incredible work of i2P accessible to as many young people as possible, regardless of the language they speak.

Mylene Lapalme

Passionate about youth, Mylène combines seven years of teaching French in high school. In class, she is always looking for new ways to make the learning experience more significant and meaningful so that her students can easily transfer their knowledge in their everyday life. This is what led her to bring i2P into her classroom. "The leaders of tomorrow are those who surpass themselves. Provide them with tangible examples of transcendence, examples to follow, an inspiration. " Her love of running, outdoors and travel has also instilled in her a need to explore what i2P could offer her. She also allows herself to think that, perhaps one day, she will take part in one of these expeditions.

Stephanie Gaudreau

Steph Gaudreau combines twelve years of science teaching experience, a certificate in holistic nutrition, and an unabashed love of tasty Paleo food on her blog, Stupid Easy Paleo. Steph went Paleo in 2010, and it didn’t take long for her to decide that she was never turning back. Eating clean, nutrient-dense foods has fueled her both in life and as a competitive athlete. Steph’s mission is to spread the word about how to make simple, tasty recipes to help people in their quests to just eat real food. She authored ”The Paleo Athlete: A Beginner’s Guide to Real Food for Performance” in 2014.

Don Kelliher

Hola! My name is Don Kelliher. I was born and raised in the Bronx, New York and am currently living in Ridgefield, Connecticut with my wife Paula and son, Eric. I graduated from Pace College in 1968 and attended graduate school at the National University of Mexico where I completed my post graduate degree in PreColombian History and Archaeology. I have traveled and photographed the majority of the archaeological sites of Mexico, Guatamala, Honduras and Peru. While at these sites, my main focus was the architecture and the physical orientation of the structures with celestial events, as well as urban planning in Mesoamerica.

After graduation from Pace College, I taught Bilingual Social Studies and served as Dean of Students at Morris H.S. In the South Bronx from 1968 to 2002 when I retired. During that time, I coached Varsity Boy's and Girl's Basketball and Tennis. After retiring, I trekked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and the Mt. Everest Trail to Everest Base Camp. I have also volunteered with Racing The Planet in the Sahara (twice), Vietnam Nan, the Gobi and the Atacama. Recently I have worked as the assist. Camp Manager at Grand2Grand in Utah and Arizona. This is the first time I will be working with Ray Zahab and I2P. I am looking forward to serving as Camp Manager and interacting with the youth ambassadors.

Ray Zahab

In 2006/7, Ray and two other runners ran the entire width of the Sahara Desert-7500 kms (4600 miles) in 111 days with no rest days-and in the process learned of the seriousness of the water crisis in Africa. The run was documented in a film directed by Oscar winner James Moll and narrated by Matt Damon. One of the goals of the film is to raise awareness for the water crisis in Africa. Ray is an established ultra marathoner and speaker who uses his athletic career to support intiatives and causes he believes in. Ray is official Athletic Ambassador for the ONEXONE organization and is a board member of the Ryan's Well Foundation. Ray has completed 8 major expeditions to date and was recently a member of the South Pole Quest, the Siberian Express teams and in early 2011 ran the length of the Atacama Desert. He is the founder of impossible2Possible. Visit RayZahab.com.

Bob Cox

Bob Cox has been in athletics all of his life (a lifelong surfer with nearly 10 years in the surf industry) and has recently found his stride in endurance endeavors such as the Canada OnexOne, the Oceanside 70.3 Triathlon, multiple 50k's, and the San Francisco 24hour footrace race with a top ten finish. He spent much of his youth surfing in the Pacific Ocean and from those experiences his passion for our big blue planet was formed. Bob earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science with an emphasis on Public Policy from California State University, Northridge. His appreciation for clean drinking water grew from his profession as a potable and recycled water Cross Connection Specialist in California. In October 2007, Bob met Ray at a Livestrong event in Texas and from that moment he knew his life had changed. From that day forward the two men have dedicated their lives to the message and ideals of i2P.

Jordan Thoms

"Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand."

Jordan is a graduate of the University of Ottawa with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics and a Baccalaureate in Education. His interests are in adventure, physical activity and youth empowerment. Some of his favourite sports include long-distance running, hockey and snowboarding. He also has a creative side with interests in multimedia technology, graphic arts and social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Skype.

Very proud and honoured to be recognized as an i2P Inspirational Ambassador, Jordan believes that if we hope to inspire and educate our youth, we must involve them in the process. As an educator, Jordan finds it absolutely necessary to share with the youth that they all have the potential to do whatever they want to in life. Nothing in the world is more rewarding than helping a child reach and overcome their own barriers, achieving their own impossible in life.

Todd Shannon

A graduate of the University of Ottawa (B.Com, 2007) and Queen's University (MBA, 2010), Todd helps deliver i2P's message to the forefront as our Digital Communication Coordinator.

Todd is a marketing, communications, branding, and business strategy specialist with experience in the non-profit and environmental/sustainability sectors, as well as an avid outdoor enthusiast, athlete, and dedicated volunteer. He believes that, with positivity, tenacity and enthusiasm, we are all capable of achieving anything that we set our minds to.

Dr. Shawn M Cooper

As a pediatrician, father of three, and long-time international advocate of child rights and education, Dr Cooper is passionate about giving every child the best opportunity for a healthy, safe, and productive life. He is a resident member of the American Academy of Pediatrics' Section on International Child Health. He has worked with and advised international travelers and groups for over a decade. Dr Cooper's own travels have taken him through North, Central and South America as well as Europe, and Africa. He has organized and participated in multiple projects and fundraisers benefiting individual children and well known child-oriented organizations including Operation Smile, UNICEF, and the Children's Miracle Network. In addition to his professional pursuits, Dr Cooper is an avid runner, having completed many marathon and ultramarathons. Dr Cooper is a senior resident physician in pediatrics at the Penn State Children's Hospital in Hershey, PA.

Cristian Sieveking

I have been involved in sports all my life beginning with snow ski, water ski, triathlon, tennis, racquetball, squash, mountain biking, archery, trekking, windsurfing, sailing and running roads, trails and mountains. I started running on April 1975 while living in Orlando Florida, doing road races since 1978 being the first one The Orlando Tangerine Bowl Half Marathon.

By accident I started running on mountains and trails in 1978 in the Chilean Andes while on vacations, since I was living in Florida USA I did not get a chance to run on hills during the year, but as soon as I got back to Chile I would go back to the climbs.

I have logged almost 70,000 kilometers uninterrupted since I started, I have done hundred of races being the most important, 4 times K42 Adventure Marathon in the Argentinean Patagonia, 2 times the Andes Crossing 100k from Argentina to Chile, Boston Marathon, 2 times the Easter Island marathon, 2 times the Lican-Ray Villarrica 70K, Valle Nevado 46k Climb, 52k Laguna de Aculeo, and 2 times the Atacama Crossing 250k self supported race.

Cris has provided logistics lead for all i2P Youth Expeditions in South America.

Heather Roe

Heather has been working as Ray's assistant for the last two years, an adventure in itself that has brought to light so many amazing life lessons and personal moments of inspiration. Getting the opportunity to now join the logistics team and work front lines on expedition planning is such an honor and thrill! Heather left a 10 year career in high tech business development 9 years ago to raise her children, photograph life, volunteer and pursue happiness. She is the first to say 'I believe I am achieving it!' Heather has been involved with youth programs for the last 7 years, most recently as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Osgoode Youth Association and currently as the Race Director of the organization's biggest fundraising run, The 'Goode Run. Also as a volunteer, she regularly leads youth-focused learn to run programs in her rural community and thrives on helping and seeing young people succeed at something they might have thought impossible and being there for the moment when they come to realize their own amazing abilities! Heather's greatest passions are family, photography, running and now being part of the i2P team! "I really truly believe that life is all about the journey! It molds every part of who we are. I try my best to make mine a happy one!"

Paul Adams

Paul is a marine engineer and has travelled the world for over 20 years. His work has involved moving of semi submersible oil rigs, laying subsea fibre optic cable and towing icebergs. He has supported Ray since 2006/7 when Ray ran across the Sahara Desert. In 2012, Paul volunteered as support with the i2P youth expedition to Bolivia. He is an avid outdoor enthusiast and enjoys encouraging others to achieve their goals. He helps make the expeditions run smoothly by assisting In all aspects of camp and day to day operations including checkpoints, motivating runners and providing Tabasco sauce.

Nick Gravel

Nick Gravel is the Director of Technology Development at Momentous Corporation based in Ottawa (Canada) where he gets to work with one of the brightest and most passionate group of web technology minds in the industry. Nick brings to the i2P team his skills in managing the delivery of high performance Internet based technology solutions, extensive knowledge of software engineering best practices and award winning entrepreneurship experience. His educational background is a Bachelor of Engineering (Communications) degree earned at Carleton University.

Nick is actively involved with the growth of i2P's web presence. His efforts are mainly focused on the ongoing development of web based solutions that enable real-time two-way communication between our audience and i2P team members during expeditions.