Tri for a Cure
Who, What, Where, When, Why, And How?
WHO: Tri for a Cure is an all-women’s sprint triathlon. It was founded in 2008 by Julie Marchese and her friend Abby Bliss; Julie has been our race director and chief motivator since the Tri’s inception. This year, women were invited to register at 6am on February 1st—first come, first served. Our race is sold out to the public. Typically, nearly 25% of the women are of- fered guaranteed entry for the following year by raising $1500. What we learned from the virtual years when COVID was so prevalent is that there are a number of women who love to participate and support Tri for a Cure, but being at the SMMC waterfront with a crowd is not their preferred way to ‘Tri’. We now offer the opportunity to register as a VIRTUAL participant and this year we have a num- ber of Tri teams and individuals registered to do the Tri in their own location. They will be part of our EXPO on the Saturday before the Tri and then instead of return- ing on Sunday for the on-site event, they will swim, bike, and run in the location of their choice. We’ve seen some lakeside families come together to encourage their VIRTUAL triathletes with kids cheering and full on finish lines! Our very generous business sponsors help to offset the costs to host the event so that all funds raised by participants go to support Maine Cancer Foundation’s work. Volunteers—we could not do this event without them! Each year upwards of 500 men and women volunteer across all areas of the Tri race course.
WHAT: Tri for a Cure raises funds to support Maine Cancer Foundation’s work. MCF leads a statewide endeavor to foster and grow the most promising and effec- tive cancer-fighting efforts available to the people of Maine through a combination of grant-based financial support and coalition building. Maine’s cancer rates are higher than the national average, and it is the leading cause of death in our state—killing more than 3,000 people each year. The good news is that nearly 50% of all cancers can be prevented through healthy lifestyle choices and 1/3 of cancer deaths can be avoided with early detection; MCF is fund- ing programs across the state to encourage these lifesaving choices and opportunities. Access to the best care can also be difficult in our state and MCF is funding programs to improve this, as well. By fostering cancer prevention programs to prevent cancer be- fore it starts, increasing cancer screenings to detect cancer in its earliest stages when it’s easier to treat, and improving access to the best care for all Mainers.
WHERE: Southern Maine Community College in South Portland Tri for a Cure’s home-base is SMCC but the event course runs through Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough, by three different lighthouses: Spring Point Ledge lighthouse for the swim (1/3 mile), Portland Headlight as they cycle (15 miles) down Shore Road and Bug Light for the run (3.2 miles). Drawing upon what we learned in 2020 and 2021, we have kept the option to participate in VIRTUAL Tri for a Cure.
WHEN: Event day kicks off early at the beachfront of Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse on Sunday, July 16th. A moving opening ceremony at 8:30am is followed by cancer survivors in their pink swim caps heading into the water in the first swim waves.
WHY: Why the Tri? Because MCF’s work has to happen and we’re so very fortunate to have an event like Tri for a Cure that makes it happen! As for the ‘why’ of our participants, there are too many to list, many very personal. What always comes through is that the ‘why’ is two-fold; women do this race for their own deeply personal reasons AND because they are determined to make a difference in the lives of others- women, men, children, family, friends, total strangers- cancer tries to chase down all of us, these women Tri Harder to make sure it can’t.
HOW: Tri for a Cure happens thanks to the over 100 sponsors—All sponsors returned this year and we have some new ones, too! Who have committed their money and services over these sixteen years to make sure the necessary costs to keep the event safe and exciting are covered. The army of volunteers, many of whom return each year, not only provide structural support but their cheering, TLC and smiles keep the participants moving forward through the toughest parts of the course. The unbe- lievably generous donors who contribute to support the participants are the funding that drives MCF’s granting. And, last but far from least, our dedicated participants who inspire us all!
