After the six-week program, all 18 Connecticut camps gather at Camp Sloper to run a true USAT-sanctioned kids’ triathlon.
SOUTHINGTON, Conn. – About 500 kids from across Connecticut gathered at Camp Sloper in Southington Saturday morning for the finale of their six-week Race4Chase triathlon program. The show honors Chase Kowalski, who died in the Sandy Hook school shooting at age 7.
Chase’s parents, Rebecca and Stephen, founded the Chase Michael-Anthony Kowalski Foundation which funds the Race4Chase program.
Chase competed in his first youth triathlon just months before he and 25 others were killed.
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“Our mission is to honor the spirit of Chase and help communities through health and wellness,” said Rebecca Kowalski.
The CMAK Foundation provides grants to 17 regional YMCAs and the Newtown Community Center to run free six-week camps for children ages 5 to 13, where they are trained to be triathletes.
After the six-week program, all 18 Connecticut camps gather at Camp Sloper to run a true USAT-sanctioned kids’ triathlon.
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It is taught to children who cannot swim or ride a bicycle. Advanced children receive additional training. If the children do not have a bicycle, one is provided free of charge. Many of the camps offer free breakfasts and lunches so that there are no barriers to participation.
“This is what YMCAs are all about. Youth development, healthy living and social responsibility and this particular program has a touch of all of that,” said Mark Pooler, CEO of the Southington-Cheshire Community YMCAs.
“[Kids] spend all summer honing their skills. You see, kids that are very young to almost high school, and a lot of the kids that have completed the program come back and are counselors, so they pay it forward,” Newtown First Selectman Dan Rosenthal said.
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It is a mission that can never be measured in mere kilometers.
“This is a very meaningful day for the Kowalski family. We are very happy to support them and of course keep Chase in our hearts and remember him,” Pooler said.
“There are so many kids out there who don’t have that opportunity, they don’t know how to swim or ride a bike or run, and for us to put it together and give them that opportunity, it builds their self-esteem, it builds their character,” Kowalski said.
Race4Chase has also grown considerably out of state, with 12 more locations in Rhode Island and South Carolina.
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