The IRONMAN Foundation Race For Change community event occurred at the Downtown Family YMCA. The event not only highlighted the importance of physical activity among underprivileged youth, including swim basics, but it also culminated with a check presentation to the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga, as well as a swim clinic for YMCA Y-CAP youth ages 12-14 at the Downtown Family YMCA.
The IRONMAN Foundation and the YMCA have a shared mission in supporting physical activity among youth, as well as providing opportunities for all youth to become active, regardless of socioeconomic status, financial ability, etc. Funds donated by The IRONMAN Foundation to the YMCA will be used to provide swim lessons and opportunities to participants in Y-CAP (Youth Community Action Project).
“We are excited and honored to receive this gift,” said Baron Herdelin-Doherty, YMCA of Metropolitan
Chattanooga president and CEO. “Obviously, teaching youth to be more water-aware and the ability to swim are something that the YMCA has been involved with for over 100 years. These funds help a specific group of children who receive mentoring and support to help them reach their full potential."
“Through our Race For Change initiative, we are teaming up with diverse communities and organizations like the YMCA to collaborate on how to best remove participation barriers from our sport at the grassroots level in order to recognize, empower and sustain diverse competitor involvement long term,” said Audra Tassone-Indeck, executive director of The IRONMAN Foundation. “As a part of IRONMAN, the largest and most prestigious triathlon race series in the world, we must lead diversity advocacy efforts to welcome more diverse people into the sport as we collectively empower the next generation of great competitors, coaches, and history-makers.”