Printer Friendly Version - Triatholon-Trainee Soundview Y Campers 'Embrace Chase'

SPN Cut: Soundview YMCA campers training for the Aug. 6 Race4Chase triathlon met Chase Kowolksi's mom, Rebecca Kolowski (at center, in blue)on July 11, and joined her in "holding up hearts" to show they embrace her son's spirit and love of sport.Pam Johnson/The Sound

A little life lost in the horror of the Sandy Hook shootings is inspiring a generation of Connecticut kids to embrace his love of life. While they may never know the circumstances of his passing, this year, 39 campers with Soundview YMCA have joined a growing number of kids across the state spending summer months building skills in nutrition, running, swimming and biking to prepare to participate in the annual Race4Chase Triatholon. All of the kids are headed to participate in their first triathlon at the Race4Chase finale on Saturday, August 6 at YMCA Camp Sloper in Southington.

Race4Chase is now in its third year collaborating with Connecticut YMCA camps and Old Saybrook non-profit "Bikes for Kids." The triathlon is an activity of non-profit Chase Michael Anthony Kowalski Foundation (CMAKF), founded in memory of Chase Kowalski and the students and educators of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting tragedy. Locally, Soundview Family YMCA teams up with Branford Parks and Recreation, Brian's Hope, Sound Runner, Ct. Cycle Center and Zane's Cycles to support CMAKF.

This is the first year that Soundview Y campers have joined in to train for Race4Chase. The kids, ages 6 – 12, got started in June and have been training and learning daily from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. under the supervision of Soundview Y's Senior Program Director Josh Case. The camp meets at the Walsh Intermediate School (WIS) track and uses the WIS pool to learn and strengthen swimming skills from Parks and Rec lifeguards.

On July 11, campers received a big boost of support with the delivery of 15 donated bikes and helmets, delivered by Jim O'Rourke, CEO of the Greater Waterbury YMCA, together with purple Race4Chase T-shirts for all, personally presented by Chase Kowolski's mom, Rebecca Kowolski.

"I'm very proud of you," Kowolski told the campers. "We're looking forward to having all of you guys at our finale on August 6. It's going to be a great day. Keep training hard and I can't wait to congratulate you all."

The Bikes for Kids donations range from five to 15 bikes per camp training group, and kids who don't have bikes at home can keep the donated bikes after the race, said O'Rourke. There are now 14 YMCA camps in Connecticut participating in Race4Chase.

"Our goal was to see it grow," Kowolski told Zip06/The Sound. "We really would like it to go nationwide. It really is just a matter of time, sponsorship and making it work. It's a great opportunity for kids and communities."

Kowolski noted individuals around the country have picked up the idea of supporting CMAKF by participating in triathlons and other contests in honor of Chase. On July 23, a Westbrook mom, Heather Theriault and her training partner, Christine Kopcha, will undergo a fundraising effort they've dubbed the "Chase the Coast Triathlon."

"They're going to swim two miles in Greenwich, then bike 112 miles up the coast and finish with a 2.2 mile marathon run to Westerly Rhode Island; they're calling it an Iron Chase because it's an ironman distance," said Kowolksi. "Heather a fitness instructor and she came up with idea to do this fundraiser because financially, she couldn't donate; but wanted to do something because Race4Chase changed her daughter's life."

The mission of CMAKF is to join communities and inspire community healing through activities focused on family and children to positively change their lives. Race4Chase training includes not only physical training but nutrition guidance and other aspects encouraging physical health and wellness, Kowolski explained.

"We have 'Tri-in-a-box' binder which gives day-to-day things to be done. The kids learn it and they love it; and they embrace Chase. And that's really special," said Kowolski. "It changes all the kids' lives. It's more than just a triatholon; it's community, its building up their self-esteem, its families spending more time together."

"Emotionally, it's helping to heal us. We've had three years of returning kids, so I'm getting see those kids grow up, which is really heartwarming."

Chase was seven years old and in first grade when he was taken away from the Kowolski family by the Sandy Hook tragedy on Dec. 14, 2012. Discussing the events of that day is "not at all" a part of the race culture, said Kowolski. Instead, it's about inspiring. Her son loved sports and put his competitive spirit to the test by beginning to run competitively in track races at age two. He entered his first triathlon at age six and won his age group.

"We want Chase to be known for who he was and what he did, and not for how he was taken," said Kowolski. "They share a little bit about Chase and who he was as a kid and a person. This is what honors his spirit; and that's the best part. The kids never got to know him, but they see his picture on their shirts and they grow to love him. And they'll say prayers at night for him. They embrace Chase and who he was, and the kind of kid he was, and to want to aspire to be like him. And he was a sweet boy."