There are plenty of athletic things to do on a Sunday morning like jogging or going for a bike ride. Toss in a quick swim across Deer Lake and you’ve got yourself the fourth annual Craig Greenfield Memorial Triathlon and Duathlon. The event kicks off at 7:45 a.m. Sunday with an 800-meter swim, then a 16-mile bike ride, and caps with a 4.5 mile run around Clarkston ending in Depot Park.
The race, which has raised more than $90,000 for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, is organized by Corey Greenfield. Greenfield and her family organized the outing in honor of her brother Craig, who passed away in 2000 of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
‘He loved to run, bike and swim. He was really athletic,? Corey Greenfield said. ‘Those were things he loved to do.
‘We wanted to do it in my brother’s memory and promote physical fitness and benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.?
Robin Rhea, development director for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, said the event’s originality was striking.
‘It was unique at the time because that was the first time anyone came to us abut hosting an event like this,? Rhea said.
‘It’s not your typical, everyday fund-raising event.?
Tri/du racers are primed to take on the course.
‘A lot of people enjoy the cause and the physical aspect,? Greenfield said.
‘People tell me they’ve spent the last year or the last month training for the event.?
Last year, 320 competitors gave the course their best and the race raised about $7,000. Rhea is hoping for more this year, with a goal of about $10,000.
Greenfield said about 30 Clarkston area business including Rudy’s Market, Kinetic Systems and Cook’s Dairy are helping with the race.
‘They’ve been tremendously helpful,? she said.
Planning for the event begins in January, Greenfield said, and doesn’t end until well after the race. A committee of nearly 150 people are involved in the race’s production.
‘Without volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to put as much money toward our mission,? Rhea said.
Visit www.3disciplines.com for more information about the race.