Maitland Triathlon Club’s president Paul Humphreys says the clubs’s Moving For Mel race day has been a success in every way.
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The club enjoyed a record number of entries at their monthly meet, with 123 people participating across the four sections at Maitland Park on Sunday.
Almost $5000 was raised for the family of former member Melanie Sexton and the Leukaemia Foundation.
“It was a great day all round,” Humphreys said.
“I’m pretty sure that would have to be our biggest race ever and we raised about $4000, but we are still counting – I think we will end up pretty close to $5000 in the end.”
The club was looking after one of their own with Sexton, the 2005 Maitland Junior Sportsperson of the Year, in Sydney recovering from a recent bone marrow transplant after a five-month battle with leukaemia.
“There was lots of old faces there who came along just to race for the cause,” Humphreys said.
“All the other local clubs like Tomaree, Singleton and Newcastle sent people along as well.
“And others just dipped into their pockets, which was a nice touch.”
Humphreys, who met with Sexton’s parents Chris and Sharon yesterday, said her family was very grateful for everything that everyone had done.
Sexton’s older brother and London Olympian Brendan attended the “Moving For Mel” event and was joined by fellow former member and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Aaron Royle.
On the course and Will Dawes was the first person across the line in a time of 51 minutes and 12 seconds, which included a four-kilometre run split of 13 minutes and 58 seconds.
The main raffle continues and will be drawn at the club’s next race day on December 28.