Even the most hostile economic environment in the past half-century isn't keeping Gloucester's newest sporting event and fund-raiser from inspiring widespread community support.
The Gloucester Triathlon — the brainchild of Gloucester native and professional triathlete Janda Ricci-Munn and Bill Burnett of Cohasset — has engaged the community in a special way, said Gloucester Fishermen Athletic Association (GFAA) co-President Jonathan Pope.
"Our goal is that this event will build as time goes on and the economy recovers," Pope said Friday. "We're starting at absolutely the worst time in the last 50 years to start something like this, and we're still going to raise a substantial sum of money from the community, so we're encouraged it will grow."
While it is no doubt a sports event, the Gloucester Triathlon — which steps off now in less that two weeks, on Sunday, Aug. 9 — is also a major fund-raiser and tourism draw, with proceeds going to support the Gloucester Fishermen Athletic Association and Wellspring House, in conjunction with the Pine Street Inn in Boston.
The first-of-its-kind event on Cape Ann has drawn more than 800 registered participants, including several world-class athletes, and it continues to draw financial support from local residents and businesses as well as in-kind service pledges.
Pope said while the triathlon could still use some volunteers — a booth will be set up Aug. 9 where people can sign up to volunteer — many in-kind services offered by local emergency responders, Addison Gilbert Hospital medical staff, and even a local dive group have helped keep preparation costs down.
"We've seen a tremendous amount of support locally with that kind of contribution," Pope said. "It's reduced expenses and left more money to be split among the nonprofits."
Given the recession and a summer tourist season plagued by inclement weather, GFAA co-President Dick Wilson didn't have an easy task when he assumed the role of Triathlon fund-raising coordinator.
Though participants pay an $80 entry fee, or $125 for a relay team, organizers are relying on business donations and triathlete-solicited sponsorship pledges to raise the bulk of the money to be donated to the nonprofits.
Two weeks before the event, Wilson has already secured $20,000. Wilson would like to see the triathlon raise $50,000 in its inaugural year.
Favazza Johnson Insurance agent and lifelong Gloucesterite Dave Amero collected roughly $2,000 from a majority of the city's insurance agents; he said part of Wilson's early fund-raising success is owed to a person's inability to say "no" to the man.
"For me, it was a no-brainer; it's going to be great for Gloucester," Amero said. "Hundreds are involved and will be bringing friends and relatives to Gloucester. I would love to see this turn into something bigger."
Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bob Hastings agreed, saying the impact of the "high quality" event on the city's economy should be "great."
"This is a bigger event coming in than I've ever experienced; it's coming at a really good time for us," Hastings said. "We're bound to be filling rooms and it's a bonus for the restaurants and the retail businesses.
"The promise of an event like this," he added, "is the many people coming here who have maybe never been here before. We can convert them to long-term visitors — that's where the real benefit to the community is."
With only 50 participant slots left as of Friday, Wilson said the event is all but assured to sell out — an "outstanding" achievement for an inaugural triathlon event, he added.
The "mini" or "sprint" triathlon consists of a one-third of a mile swim off Pavilion Beach, a 15-mile cycling ride that will begin in St. Peter's Square and carry over Western, Essex and Magnolia avenues before returning to the city's center, and a 3.2-mile run that will loop twice around downtown Gloucester to cap the event.
The GFAA is a nonprofit group that was founded to support Gloucester's public schools, in particular athletics, and related activities for the city's youths.
Pope said the GFAA's chief concerns are to provide all children the opportunity to play sports by helping keep user fees down and to help finance facility maintenance work, particularly projects essential to safety.
"The city does not have the finances right now to put money into facilities," Pope said. "I would love to be generating enough income to make improvements beyond safety."
The Gloucester Fishermen Athletic Association stands to receive 50 percent of the profits from the triathlon while Pine Street Inn and Wellspring House will each receive 25 percent.
The Pine Street Inn is a nonprofit organization committed to men, women, and children in need of shelter, sustenance, and the basic moral and material supports necessary to lead a dignified and stable life.
Based in Gloucester, Wellspring House works to meet basic human needs and participate in social change by providing emergency shelter for families, education, job training, affordable housing and family support programs.
People interested in donating money or signing up to volunteer can do so by visiting the triathlon Web site at http://gloucestertri.com.
Jonathan L'Ecuyer can be reached at jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.
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