July 30, 2020
Shannon Hargreaves, St.Amant Occupational Therapist, has a love of triathlons. She trains all year round and competes during the summer months.
In 2019, Shannon qualified to compete at the International Triathlon Union (ITU) Age Group World Grand Final in August. Unfortunately, the ITU World Championships have been cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
She had also registered to compete in the Ironman Canada 2020 race in Penticton, B.C., which has also been cancelled. Meeting athletes from all over the world is such a huge part of these events, but sadly, that will not happen for her this year.
Despite the cancellation of these competitions, Shannon is still training. Friends and family have been asking her “why are you still training?” and “what can we do to help you stay motivated?”
In hopes of turning lemons into lemonade, Shannon has decided to continue her training and to complete her own Ironman Canada this August and she is using this as an opportunity to fundraise for St.Amant Foundation.
Shannon is an Occupational Therapist, working at St.Amant since 2015. Part of her time is spent in the Outreach Therapy for Children (OTC) program providing community Occupational Therapy services to preschool-aged children in their homes, child care centers, and nursery schools. She also works with adults living in the community at their homes and day programs. She is currently working to start a Winnipeg-based chapter of Go Baby Go – an innovative early power mobility program for preschool-aged children that is linked to cognitive, social, motor, language and other developmental benefits in young children.
Shannon says: “I have seen first-hand the benefits of adaptive equipment and leisure activities provided through St.Amant Foundation to optimize a person’s participation in their meaningful occupations and to bring as much joy and leisure into their everyday lives!”
Witnessing the cancellation of so many Foundation fundraising events, Shannon is inspired to pair her passion for triathlons with her desire to raise funds for the Foundation. This will help keep her motivated to train this summer, and the funds raised will benefit the people supported by St.Amant.
In August, she will complete her own Ironman Canada “virtually”, tracking her distances with her triathlon watch, right here in Manitoba. For those of you unfamiliar with triathlons, they are composed of swimming, cycling, and running (in that order) of varying distances. Shannon’s Ironman will consist of a 3.86 km (2.4 miles) swim; cycling 180.25 km (112 miles), and then a 42.2km (26.2 miles) run!
Please donate to support Shannon’s amazing triathlon training and help her reach her fundraising goal in support of St.Amant Foundation!
CLICK HERE to go to her fundraising page.
