YMCA 26-Day Challenge Kicks off to Support Race4Chase Triathlon Program

The Southington-Cheshire Community YMCAs is kicking off its annual 26-Day Fundraising Challenge to raise $50,000 to support the Race4Chase Youth Triathlon program. The challenge begins on June 1 with YMCA CEO, Mark Pooler, followed by 25 volunteers in both Southington and Cheshire. Participant athletes include YMCA board members and staff, teachers and faculty, business owners, Y members and community leaders. They will be running, biking, or swimming 2.6 miles for 26 consecutive days in memory of Chase Kowalski and the other students and teachers who lost their lives in Sandy Hook on December 14, 2012.

“The R4C Program is one of the most impactful and inspiring programs that our YMCA offers," stated Pooler. "Our Y focuses on Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility and this program really touches all of those areas. The R4C 26-day challenge is a special and meaningful way to honor all of the 26 victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy, including Chase who has been inspirational to so many people that he has never met."

The program, which is offered free of charge to young athletes, is run at over 28 different sites across Connecticut, Rhode Island and South Carolina. The programs in Southington and Cheshire allow young athletes from the two communities to train for 6-weeks and compete in a real triathlon on August 1, 2026 at YMCA Camp Sloper. Chase competed in his first triathlon in the fall of 2012 and now his memory lives on in the young athletes he inspires each summer.

Brandon Riollano, Head Coach of Cheshire’s Race4Chase, said, "Watching these kids go from hesitant first laps in the pool and unsteady bike rides to crossing the finish line with confidence is something truly special. Each day they grow stronger, more determined, and prouder of what they can accomplish. On race day, the joy on their faces says it all. In those moments, Chase’s legacy shines through every smile, every step, and every young athlete inspired to believe in themselves.”

The overall goal is to raise $50,000 in both the Southington and Cheshire communities. Each participant in the Challenge has been asked to raise monetary donations with an overall goal of $500 per person. This goal is reached by asking for support while they themselves train over 26 days in support of this program and the many children who learn valuable skills, gain confidence, and have an amazing experience.

“The Race4Chase Triathlon Program provides challenges and opportunities for our youth, allowing them to set goals, train, compete and build self-esteem; this is what this program is all about” stated Pooler.

Each 26 Day Challenge participant is eager to get started in their effort to raise money to support the Race4Chase Triathlon Program If you are interested in joining the challenge and helping the YMCA to reach the $50,000 goal, contact Jennifer McHale, Development Director at jmchale@scccymca.org. 

The actual Race4Chase program is offered to kids ages 6-12 to have a chance to try out the sport of triathlon in a fun, safe, and friendly environment surrounded by the support of their local community. That program will run June 22 – July 1, with the finale triathlon on August 1 this summer. If you are interested in supporting the program, follow this link: https://www.sccymca.org/R4C26Day

About The Southington Community YMCA

The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across Southington and Cheshire, CT the Y engages men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors.  Anchored in our communities, the Southington-Cheshire Community YMCAs was established in 1928 and has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. YMCA membership, YMCA Camp Sloper, the Learning Center, the gymnastics center and all Y programs and facilities are welcoming, inclusive and open to all regardless of income. For more information, stop by for a tour (29 High St. Southington, CT) or visit Sccymca.org.