TIMMINS - Justin Lambert-Bélanger wanted to make a difference in the lives of others.

He was well on his way to doing that, and much more, when he and seven teammates on the University of Wyoming cross country track squad were killed when their team van was struck by a drunk driver in September of 2001. Lambert-Bélanger, born and raised in Timmins and on a path to stardom, was only 20 years old.

Nearly 13 years later, it’s not uncommon to see Lucie and Richard Lambert-Bélanger on a sunny day at the track, giving tips and encouraging local youngsters to be their best. After the loss of their son, both Lucie and Richard have remained heavily involved on the track and field scene in Timmins, sitting on various committees and volunteering many hours to event planning and organization.

Though there’s nothing to fill the void of a lost child for the Lambert-Bélangers, they point to the fact there's evidence at least one of Justin’s dreams did come true.

The Justin Lambert-Bélanger Relays will be held on May 29 in Timmins. Around 15 elementary schools from the area will each bring between 20 and 60 young athletes, ready to leave it all on the oval at the Timmins Regional Athletics and Soccer Complex.

“It’s really supposed to be a fun day rather than a competitive one,” explained Lucie. “Of course, there’s always a competitive aspect, with the athletes and the coaches especially, but there aren’t trophies or anything for the winning teams at the end.

“The trophy we do have goes to the team which has displayed the best team spirit and sportsmanship throughout the event.”

The trophy is in fact a pair of Justin’s running shoes, along with a relay baton, which have been encased in glass to serve as a lasting symbol of his passion for the sport.

Though competitive fanfare is kept to a relative minimum at the relays, each member of the team with the most spirit will receive a medal. On the back of each medal is inscribed a quote inspired from an interview Justin did shortly before he died, during which he said: “If I was able to inspire one person by the time my career is over, I’ll be happy.”

The inscription ends with one final phrase: “Come run with me.”

“Justin always wanted to have a relay competition to compete in,” remembered Richard. “He found a relay race pleasant, it wasn’t too stressful, and it put emphasis on team spirit and working together. Unfortunately, he never had the chance.”

After a one-year hiatus in 2013, the Lambert-Bélangers and fellow organizers were flooded with requests from students, parents and teachers clamouring for the relays to return for an 11th event. In the coming years, the Lambert-Bélangers hope to grow the relays to include presentations in schools and increase the number of participants.

Other than promoting physical activity and sportsmanship among students, Lucie said the relays were a distinct way to honour Justin and the things he stood for.

“As a family, it keeps the memory of Justin alive,” she said. “It’s kind of a bonus for us, I guess you could say. One of your biggest fears as a parent who loses a child is that they’ll be forgotten.

“As time passes, it’s normal for the memory to fade a little bit, so this is also just a way to make sure he and his passion for track and field are remembered.

“He really was passionate about it. It’s fun that people get to see a part of who he was.”

It was with the help of family and friends, including one of Justin’s former coaches, Darlene Polowy, that the Justin Lambert-Bélanger Relays have continued on all these years.

But rather than a sombre reminder of Justin’s passing, his parents say the relays serve as a celebration of Justin’s deep desire to make a difference in people’s lives.

“For us as parents, it’s not that difficult,” said Lucie about being reminded of Justin with each annual event. “We think about him every single day. So it’s not like, ‘Oh, the relays are today, it’s time to think about Justin.’

“It’s the same for the rest of the family. Not a day goes by where we don’t think of him.”

Richard confirmed the sentiment, saying the positive atmosphere surrounding the day is uplifting for the family.

“It’s a feel-good day for us, to see all those kids out there, yelling, singing, having fun and competing,” he said with a smile. “It’s really heart-warming.”

Richard also explained that, following Justin’s tragic death, it was Thériault’s longtime track and field coach Vital Shank who approached the family with the idea to create an event in his memory.

Shank has been a Thériault track coach since 1974. He’s seen athletes come and go, including great ones who have gone on to great things. But even among the stars, Justin stood out.

“He was special because of his humility,” said Shank. “He was very grounded, dedicated and easy to coach. His goal was basically to end up in the Olympics some day, but what he always said was, ‘I hope I can influence someone positively in some way.’

“I don’t think it was a premonition or anything. It’s hard for a 19- or 20-year-old to transfer that kind of message. But it was never about him. It was always about everything around him. He was very much a teammate, just willing to share his experiences with other people.”

Shank explained Justin often appears in his thoughts the night before a track meet, but that as the event unfolds, the excitement of the day takes over. It’s in those moments that Justin Lambert-Bélanger’s spirit shines the strongest.

“Was he the best athlete I ever coached? He was certainly one of the best; I’ve coached some good ones.” said Shank. “But he’s definitely the one I miss the most.”