Kick Cabin Fever Indoor Triathlon Supports Suicide Awareness Efforts In Chautauqua County

Feb 11, 2016

MAYVILLE – This year’s Kick Cabin Fever Indoor Triathlon will take place Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Turner Community Center, Route 394 in Chautauqua at Chautauqua Institution.

Cheryl Burns, known to friends and family as “Brnz,” began the indoor triathlon one year after her brother Marty Miller died by suicide due to several years of depression. The intent of this event is to get people moving during one of the toughest winter months in Chautauqua County. The exciting part of the KCF event is the number of first-time triathlon participants.

“We get all sorts of people from really competitive to novice, very young to over 70 years, and those with challenges proving the human spirit can overcome a great deal,” said Brnz. “We keep the cost a very reasonable $35 per individual, $70 per team which can be made of two or three. With that cost includes a long-sleeve T shirt with other goodies and great prizes are awarded to overall winners.”

Erik Travis, Brnz’s nephew, manages the website and the computer program for obtaining order of finishers at the event. Marlena Franco, a dedicated volunteer, runs Erik’s program the day of the event. There are approximately 25 volunteers, including friends and family, who make sure the day is fun and runs smoothly for competitors.

“Anyone can do this event,” said Brnz. “When someone hears ‘triathlon’ they immediately think ‘impossible’ because they cannot swim well or feel they are not in good enough shape to bike or run. We are very lenient at this event for those people and we encourage them to simply float from one end to the other when swimming, spin on a stationary bike the best they can, and walk the treadmill while listening to the goofy people around for support and the upbeat music. The three events: swim, bike and run only last a total of 45 minutes, but will typically hook anyone to a future in multisport.”

All proceeds for the Kick Cabin Fever Indoor Triathlon stay in Chautauqua County for suicide prevention efforts. Last year, a $600 donation was made to The Community Alliance for Suicide Prevention. The alliance was formed four years ago when local professionals from the mental health and other health care fields saw a great need in the community for supports and education around suicide prevention. These community members and others answered the call for action and started The Community Alliance for Suicide Prevention. Over the past several years the alliance and its partner agencies have worked together to train over 1,000 local community members from all walks of life in suicide prevention and awareness. To learn more about the events they host and for more information, visit their Facebook page by searching for “The Community Alliance for Suicide Prevention.”

For more information, visit Kickcabinfever.com.