August

Status: Completed – August 28, 2021

Olympic Triathlon for War Child Canada

Why

Why this charity and why this feat?

Why the charity?

I have been involved with War Child since 2009 when I raised money for it by running a marathon. 

In 2018, a week before my 30th birthday, I completed an Olympic Triathlon also in support of War Child.

I was attracted to War Child for a few reasons.

Firstly, 98 cents on the dollar go to actual programming, which is among the best in the world. 

Secondly, the approach to the programming isn’t just delivering funds directly to impacted children, or having its own volunteers run the programs, but rather through trusted grass roots organizations. 

Thirdly, I really really believe in the mission. I could not imagine growing up as a soldier. I can think of nothing worse than losing out on your innocence and childhood by having to perform absolutely terrible acts in order to survive. 

I remember speaking with Emmanuel Jal at Nelson Mandela’s 90 birthday concert in London and the stories he told me impacted me deeply, so much so that I immediately wanted to help prevent childhood atrocities like the ones he had to experience. 

Why the feat?

An Olympic Triathlon is a 1.5km swim, 40km bike, and 10km run, consecutively. I did manage to do a sub-3 hour one my first try (with any type of triathlon), but that was when i was just training for one event all year. Now I am training for numerous things that will make training for this all the more challenging. 

A triahtlon is grueling, and requires dealing with different types of pain and situations. However, even as challenging as an Olympic Triathlon is, it is nothing compared to the pain and challenge that child soldiers face.

It is for that simple reason I choose to do these very physically and mentally challenging activities in support of War Child.

When?

August 28, 2021, at Britannia Beach, Ottawa.

Media

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Help

Help by donating!

Don’t forget, you can donate to this charity, or any charity, at any point from
January 2021 – February 2022