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Conquer the Crater to compete against the world's best in Hawaii

Sudbury to host triathlon at Kivi Park as fundraiser for Northern Cancer Foundation

A race event that has been more than a year in the making is finally making its way to Kivi Park this summer, and participants may very well earn a spot to compete in Hawaii.

Element Racing, XTERRA, the Northern Cancer Foundation, Miles Against Cancer and Kivi Park are joining forces to host Conquer the Crater Aug. 3-4. This event is part of the XTERRA world tour, and Sudbury will be a act as a qualifier for the world championship in Hawaii.

Up for grabs for those who compete in Sudbury are 10 spots to compete in Hawaii on Oct. 27, 2019. 

Conquer the Crater will be spread out over two days. The Aug. 3 schedule includes a Sudbury Saturday Night Race, a kids triathlon and a race expo. Aug. 4 will have the full triathlon/duathlon.

This event provides the opportunity for full- and short-course athletes in both off-road triathlon — the format combines swimming with mountain biking and trail running — and duathlon, cross-country runners and children to participate in a wold class event, said Miles Against Cancer (MAC) co-founder John Macdonald, who is also co-race director for Conquer the Crater.

“We wanted to create a series of world-class active events to promote active lifestyles and to raise money for pediatric cancer,” Macdonald said. “Rather than try to host a smaller event, we went after the big fish, that being XTERRA, and the stars aligned and we were able to secure it.”

Hopefully within the next year or two, Sudbury will become the exclusive site of XTERRA Ontario as the move towards new branding and licencing, Macdonald said. That would put Sudbury in a spot to host the Canadian National Championships.

Macdonald and his wife, Dr. Tracy Hayes, started MAC after their son, Malcolm (Mac for short) was diagnosed with a Rhabdomyosarcoma tumour in his inner ear. It was an aggressive tumour, growing visibly outward from his right ear, while also growing through his skill and wrapping itself around his Carotid artery.

At the time of the diagnosis, Mac was at Stage 2 and immediately began a 42-week chemotherapy protocol with a concurrent six-week radiation therapy protocol.

Eight IV starts, four biopsies, port insertion, four life-threatening debrile neutropenia infections, a two-month relocation to Toronto with 30 sedations to administer radiation, along with countless other pediatric cancer journey mishaps, and Mac is now through to the other end, Macdonald said. He is now one year post-treatment, remains cancer free.

“We know that even when the acute treatment ends, the journey is far from over for the children and their families,” Macdonald said. “Ongoing complications, constant worry, follow-up visits to Sick Kids and CHEO can all place significant burdens on those impacted by childhood cancers.

“We hope to raise awareness of the prevalence of pediatric cancers in Northeastern Ontario, and support the children and families impacted by them through local research and patient-care programs.”

All money raised through the two-day event will go to the Northeast Cancer Centre for pediatric patient care, equipment and research. 

“The magnitude of this event is extremely exciting for the community and our foundation, said Tannys Laughren, executive director, Northern Cancer Foundation. “Mac's family is very special to the NCF and we look forward to partnering with them on such a fantastic event.”

For for information about the event, visit ncfsudbury.com.


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Arron Pickard

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