Rye Triathlon Club Hosts 2013 Ryder Cup End of Season Celebration

The Rye Triathlon Club, initially established by Chairman Ray Kelly in 2004, hosted the annual Ryeder Cup Presentation on Sunday, October 20, 2013 with the committee having distributed over $15,500 to local charities bringing total contributions to approximately $40,000 to date.

The Rye Triathlon Club, started with a handful of members, is currently comprised of approximately 300 members and combines the love of the sport with a principal foundation of charitable giving. The club is member driven whereby all the committee members, coaches and mentors are volunteers. Core sponsors NY Orthopedics, Tri-Trainer.com, Julia B. Fee/Sotheby’s, Maxx Properties, Kwittken & Company, Melt Shop and My Sister’s Place all helped the club fund designated charities and build the program while also boosting charitable contributions.

2012 was a banner year for the Rye Tri Club as it marked its first year as a 501(C) 3 status organization. The club distributed $10,500 to well deserving charities; $3,000 to Challenged Athletes Foundation, $3,000 to Mac Angels -Supporting Families with ALS, $3,000 to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), $500 to Wheels of Progress and $1000 including food supplies to American Red Cross earmarked for victims of Hurricane Sandy.

In February, 2013, Rye Tri Club distributed another $10,500; $3,000 to Challenged Athletes Foundation, $3,000 to MAC Angels- Supporting Families with ALS and $3,000 to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (TNT), $500 to Wheels of Progress and $500 to National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NYCSCIA) and $500 towards American Red Cross Tornado Relief Fund.

With this year’s Ryeder Cup Presentation marking the end of the triathlon season, the Committee generously donated an additional $15,500;  $4000 to Challenged Athletes Foundation, $4,000 to MAC Angels- Supporting Families with ALS, $4,000 to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society- Team in Training, $1000 to Wheels of Progress, $1000 to Ty Louis Campbell Foundation, $1000 to NY Organ Donor Network and $500 to Friends of Karen. On hand to accept the checks were Barbara Evans (CAF), Chris Curtin (MAC Angels), Ronnie Ram (LLS/TNT), and Louis Campbell (Ty Louis Campbell Foundation). Absent, George Gallego (WP), Jerry Ballentine (NY Organ Donor Network) and Gwen Salmo (Friends of Karen).

The club affords its members with training sessions and plans, group workouts, social gatherings, and an up-to-date website and Facebook Page with events, tips, articles and resources. Members enjoy getting to know each other and connecting both on a social basis and through the various group-training sessions.

This year the club members participated in a variety of athletic events ranging from local sprints to full Ironman distance races here in the US and abroad. In addition to the camaraderie fueled by the love of the sport, many members placed overall in Age Group categories and several qualified for Nationals and Worlds Championships.

Membership is open to all triathletes, swimmers, cyclists and runners and not limited to Rye area residents. Cost of membership is $75. For more information about how to become a member, sponsor, volunteer or purchase a race kit, contact, ryetrimembership@me.com or visit, www.theryetriclub.com. To participate in any or all group swim, rides or runs, waivers must be completed.