Triathlon returns in support of domestic violence survivors and YWCA
For the first time in three years, TriIt Multisport hosted its annual women’s only triathlon, in support of the YWCA Sheriff King Home, which is an emergency shelter for women and children fleeing family violence.
The event kicked off early Sunday morning at the Rocky Ridge YMCA.
Race director Richelle Love says this event is crucial for the YWCA to receive funding and donations.
“Violence is at an all time high and the YW needs the support now more than ever,” she said.
Love says that the event is smaller this year, but that’s because people are slowly getting more comfortable with participating in large scale events again.
“We have about 115 racers,” said Love.
“We normally have about double that but coming off the pandemic, most races are about half that.”
The YWCA Sheriff King Home emergency shelter provides basic needs including food and personal items with the goal of establishing a transition plan to ensure safety and security becomes a daily routine.
For Britney Dehler, this was her first triathlon event.
“This race seems like its directed to first time triathletes so people that are looking to give it a try,” she said.
“It will be super fun and a great atmosphere.”
Dehler competed in the Try-a-Tri race which consists of 350 metre swim, nine kilometre bike ride and 2.5 kilometre run.
She says the encouragement of her friend is Teagan Gahler, is what brought her to compete this year.
Gahler has competed in the event several times before.
“It’s a women supporting women event and incredibly important for our community and to support the YWCA of Calgary,” said Gahler.
“And to do it with my girlfriend Brit here, build community and be back after three years of the pandemic (is just great).”
In the sprint distance, where the majority of the 115 racers are competing, they must swim 750 metres, bike 18 kilometres and run five kilometres.
Organizers say they don’t have specific target in mind for fundraising, but hope to help the YWCA as much as possible.
“This is a new venue, so a lot of the stuff was getting bike racks, getting the vendors (and) making sure they are all set up, massage tables and such,” said assistant race director Tate Mazurkewich.
“Then things like photography and volunteers is such a huge thing when putting on races.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.