By Will Shoemaker

The 5^th annual MiracleKids triathlon took place at 8 a.m. Saturday morning and, despite the conditions, was a huge success.

Over 600 kids showed up at Lake Ann Park on the rainiest and coldest day of the summer to compete in the race, which was directed by world-champion triathlete Tony Schiller.

The kids who showed up turned in over $50,000 in pledges with much more to be collected. The leading fundraiser and participant for four years straight, Jordan Dalke, came through again by raising $21,000 for the foundation. He raised the money by holding events and asking people for pledges.

“They don’t have to be big events because people can be really generous,” said Dalke, a junior at Mayer Lutheran high school. Four years ago, he participated in his first MiracleKids triathalon after his father proposed the idea as something to do with his time that summer. “I wasn’t that enthusiastic at first, but then I found out what the cause was for and started getting into it.”

Though there was some concern about safety, only five children didn’t finish due to the cold. There were 300 volunteers including three high school sports teams. The Chaska boys and girls cross country teams lined the bike and run courses providing course marshal safety. The Mayor Lutheran football team members were also runners and helped kids get off to good starts, ride bikes uphill on slippery roads; and the Minnetonka football team spent over an hour in the water protecting kids in the swimming course.

“Each of these teams brought tremendous enthusiasm to the day and were invaluable to us and the safety of the kids,” said Schiller. The weather seemed to motivate participants and helped them focus on what they were there for. Recapping the event, Schiller said, “To me, that’s the story. They came and they stayed, and they raced, and they finished - despite the conditions. They wanted to race in this event because of what it stands for, both in physical challenge and in racing for a kid who can’t”

The event was conceived as a benefit event for the Miracles for Mitch Foundation, a local foundation that benefits children battling cancer and their families.