PINEHURST – FirstHealth Fitness-Pinehurst is partnering with The Foundation of FirstHealth in a pledge drive to raise money for the Children’s CARE Fund as part of the Seventh Annual FirstHealth of the Carolinas Youth Triathlon.
The Children’s CARE Fund was established to provide early intervention for local children who need but cannot afford quality health care. All funds raised will stay in this community for those in need.
Youth Triathlon participants will have the opportunity to collect donations from family members and friends who can sponsor each leg of their Triathlon. A suggested donation is $5 per leg (swim, bike and run). The child who collects the most donations will receive a free bicycle donated by Rainbow Cycles ($250 value).
The Triathlon – which will be held Saturday, May 17, this year – has become a favorite for kids ranging in age from 4 to 12 years. All races are sanctioned by USA Triathlon and will be on the campus of the fitness center. Triathlon events include an indoor pool swim, closed bike course and greenway trail run.
Starting at 12:15 p.m., children ages 4-5 will swim 25 yards, bike .78 miles and run 210 yards. At 1 p.m., ages 6-7 will swim 50 yards, bike 2.05 miles and run 404 yards. At 2 p.m., ages 8-9 will do the same distance as the 6-7 year olds.
Lastly, at 3 p.m., children ages 10-12 will swim 125 yards, bike 3.71 miles and run .47 miles.
Registration is available at FirstHealth Fitness-Pinehurst at 170 Memorial Drive, Pinehurst. The cost is $30 per child or $35 per child after May 10. Each participant will receive a T-shirt, cinch bag and finisher’s medal.
Trophies will be awarded to the boy and girl finishing first in each age category, and ribbons will go to the boys and girls finishing second and third in each age category.
An awards ceremony will be held at FirstHealth Fitness on Monday, May 19, at 6 p.m.
All Triathlon participants are required to have a parent present for the entire event, and a participation waiver must be completed at packet pick-up, which will begin one hour prior to start time on race day. In addition, participants must furnish their own equipment including a swimsuit and towel, bike and helmet (required), running shoes and T-shirt.
A Parents’ Information Night will be held on Thursday, May 1, at 6:30 p.m. in the fitness center classroom.
Sponsors for the 2014 FirstHealth of the Carolinas Youth Triathlon are Benjamin Franklin Plumbing; Brixx Wood Fired Pizza; Carolina Coins & Gold; NuView Home Theaters & More; Prudential, Gouger, O’Neal & Saunders – Kevin Bartlett, Realtor; Rick Saunders, DDS; Fabian Rodriguez, M.D.; Rainbow Cycles; Rugg Rats and Rita’s Italian Ice.
For more information on the race and to download a registration form, go to www.firsthealth.org/youthtriathlon or contact Jodi Heimrich at (910) 715-1843 or by email at jheimrich@firsthealth.org. Course maps are also available on the website.
