Overcoming Stage 4 cancer of the neck and tonsils in 2018 gave South Florida real estate developer and custom homebuilder Marc Julien a new perspective in business and life.

As an entrepreneur, he learned the greatest values of delegating responsibilities to his team at Marc Julien Homes, which since 2009 has built about 70 luxury properties worth more than $200,000,000 in Delray Beach and other South Florida locations. He was largely incapacitated for months undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments, finding himself often unable to “even just write a check.” This allowed others to better display and grow their capabilities, as well as helping Julien become a stronger leader.

“I’m a different person, and a much better boss, communicator and motivator today,” said the 49-year-oldnative of Montreal, now celebrating two years into remission. The business results are apparent as the company currently boasts a new Pineapple Road seven-home project in Delray Beach and growing Interior Elementz, Garage Living, 71Build (real estate development) and R3 (renovation) divisions. 

The experience also taught him to slow down and savor the process and beauty of “what we’re building at the moment.” Before cancer, he was like many hard-charging business owners, thinking ahead and restlessly jumping to the next project or bigger challenge.

Julien also can now apply and appreciate the same “enjoy the ride” outlook in the rest of his life, especially spending time with his children. His first daughter was born four weeks before he was diagnosed, and he was able to “hang out” with her for four months during his treatments. That was time with her he says he never would have had before cancer.

And it was thinking about other children – ones who suffer terribly through both the disease and treatments of cancer -- that drove him to the next new big breakthrough in his life.

Julien vowed to “get involved and make a real impact” to support research on childhood cancer, especially the treatment options he calls “harsh and outdated.” The long-term effects of current therapies can create severe, life-threatening complications and he couldn’t “idly stand by.”

Instead, he’s going to ride. Julien has formed a 20-member team -- RAAM21 – Gear up for Cancer–with eight riders and 12 crew members to compete in the Race Across America to raise funds for the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The Race Across America is the world’s toughest bike race at twice the length of the Tour de France in one sixth the amount of time. Racers cover 3,000 miles from Oceanside, California to Annapolis, Maryland, riding 24/7 over five days.

“This is important to prove that I’m better and stronger than ever, and more critically, to stand up for kids,” says Julien, who’s personally putting up $80,000 for race costs so all donations supporting his team will go to charity. His goal is to raise $500,000 in pledges.

“Marc’s an inspiration for all of us,” said Jason Loeb, founder of Sudsies Dry Cleaning & Laundry company and president of Entrepreneurs’ Organization South Florida (EO SOFLO). Julien is a member of the group which is one of the world’s largest EO chapters, with more than 200 members who run businesses with 10,000 employees and more than $2 billion in annual revenue in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. “Our organizations core principles highlight the importance of philanthropy. We call it ‘leaving a mark.’ In this case it’s leaving a Marc.”

Julien joined the organization five years ago largely for the opportunity to share experiences with business peers. As a company owner he says you can convince yourself of almost anything. But having other entrepreneurs to “vet ideas, initiatives and strategies is a huge help.” After he was diagnosed, his EO SOFLO partners were especially helpful in “developing a game plan to delegate all the day-to-day activities” he’d be unable to direct personally.

Because of the members’ and organization’s commitment to philanthropy, he anticipates many will also gear up with him to advance cancer research and help the 16,000 children who are diagnosed each year in the U.S.

“EO is filled with innovative, compassionate entrepreneurs,” Julien says. “We want to deliver solutions and success not just to our own companies, but to the world.”

To learn more and support the effort, go to www.raam21.com and www.gearupforcancer.com.

For details on EO SOFLO, visit www.eosoflo.com.