Challenging weekend ahead
A CHALLENGE at Lake Tinaroo is on this weekend to raise money for young athletes wanting to pursue their sporting dreams.
The Grin N Bear It Challenge was designed to test people’s abilities while raising money so children in the Far North could go on sporting trips they can’t afford.
Mitch Nissen of Cairns, said he had been training over the last six weeks so that more children could get the opportunity to play sport and do what they might not have been able to do.
“I have done a lot of surf livesaving around Cairns and North Queensland and met a lot of friends through that,” Mr Nissen said.
“Supporting young athletes to go to these sort of events is great. I have been training for this over the last six weeks. Spending lots of time on the mountain bike. I am feeling pretty ready and keen to give it a good crack.”
Mr Nissen has really gotten into challenges over the last year and has done various ones including the Lake Awoonga Adventure Race in 2020.
The challenge was created for the Bear Foreman Foundation after Michael (Bear) Parnell Foreman had died at 40 after a car accident.
Throughout his life he supported talented young athletes and after his death, his wife and friends continued his legacy.
Grin N Bear It race director Ivan Whittle said the money raised would go on to give some more young children even more opportunities.
“The money goes towards young sporting kids to help them further their endeavours. It’s very expensive for parents to pay for airfares and accommodation,” Mr Whittle said.
“You don’t want money to be a governing factor in your success. When you have been in that situation and you would never want your children to say ‘if only’.”
The event itself is expected to be one filled with lots of fun and family.
But also one that will really challenge people’s fitness.
“The people that will come on Saturday are just like family, it is a good hard day in a beautiful part of the world,” he said.
It was important to not forget that it was a challenge, after all, that would help people get fit, Mr Whittle said.
The challenge will include a 2km swim, out and back 12km lake paddle, 62km mountainous MTB ride and a 12km trail run.
“It is a challenge but it gives people a goal. If you have a goal, you will train and get fit. It’s hard to do anything if you don’t have a goal whether it’s work or fitness,” he said.
“For people who want to get their fitness up and want another challenge, then this is the perfect challenge for them.”