On August 15th, nearly 70 people participated in the Chateauguay Valley’s first ever triathlon, hosted by the Betty Riel Foundation.
By noon the cafeteria at Chateauguay Valley Regional High School was flush with smiles and exhausted participants (and volunteers) sporting red and pink Betty Riel Foundation t-shirts. They had just wrapped up their first annual triathlon, hosted by the Betty Riel Foundation. 21 teams of three participated, alongside five individuals who completed the entire race individually (a feat which was affectionately called the “Full Monty” by the committee members). Members of all ages competed, making the day a family event. The turnout was impressive, especially considering that the Betty Riel Foundation came up with the idea for the triathlon in April, turning it into a reality by August.
The race called for bikers, kayakers and runners, with the length of the race spanning from CVR to Dewittville to Huntingdon and back to the high school. Road access was managed by volunteers, with the assistant fire chief from the Godmanchester Fire Department standing by in case of emergency. Local merchants volunteered both their services and goods, aiding greatly in making the day a success. The meal was prepared by local caterer Marie Shewchuk, who also volunteered her time to provide a healthy lunch for the hungry participants.
Designed to honour all participants equally, a trophy was awarded to a random team, whose names were pulled via a draw. The winners (pictured) were Alisha, Jeremy and Megan L’Heureux. Organizer Peter Bulow was thrilled at the outcome of the event. “The important thing is that people know that the Betty Riel Foundation is there to help people when they’re going through the worst experience,” he said, when asked about how he felt the event had affected the community.
Dedicated to providing chauffeured transportation to local cancer patients headed into the city of Montreal for treatments, the committee works alongside collaborator Service d’Accompagnement Bénévole et Communautaire (SABEC) to ensure that patients can get from home to hospital without any stress. The foundation, which now services the entire MRC, financed 64 trips last month alone. Since March, the committee has organized nearly 50 trips per month. On Saturday, the triathlon raised between $8,000 and $10,000 for the cause.
