Margie Maccoll
“It’s a great day, members love it – that’s what it’s all about,” was an apt description by a staff member of Sunshine Butterflies fifth annual Triathlon, held last week at their Cooroibah premises, Our Backyard.
The centre was a hive of activity as Sunshine Butterflies members, staff, volunteers and community members including St Andrews College students came together for the success of the event, which continues to flourish.
Sunshine Butterflies Triathlon was brought to life in 2020 when many local sporting events including the Noosa Triathlon were impacted by Covid. Sunshine Butterflies members with disability were devastated by these cancellations.
The Sunshine Butterflies team put their heads together and with the support of the community and major sponsor June Canavan Foundation they created Sunshine Butterflies Triathlon.
“We thought we could do our own Tri, do something different,” Sunshine Butterflies spokesperson Heather said.
“We have eight races with members, a 250m run, a special bike race in wheelchairs and a water splash.”
About 45-50 competitors entered the Triathlon including Sunshine Butterflies members, volunteers and sponsors.
The races, were filled with excitement for all involved with competitors buoyed by enthusiastic cheers around the track.
Among the supporters were Noosa Tri Club athletes who buddied on the course with Sunshine Butterfly members, Sunshine Coast Lightning players who handed out medals, St Andrew’s students who manned the water spray area and 91.1 Hot FM presenter Nugget who emceed the event.
Sunshine Butterflies founder and CEO Leanne Walsh Leanne Walsh said she was very proud of the event and the organisation which provided members friendship, life skills and a recreational component in a family orientated environment.
