'It's a continuous journey': North Bay woman does 50 km triathlon for survivors of gender-based violence
A North Bay woman who is a childhood trauma survivor took Trout Lake and Corbeil roads by storm at the crack of dawn Sunday morning, swimming, biking and running in a 50-kilometre triathlon for Amelia Rising Sexual Violence Support Centre.
Chelsea LeBlanc and Tyler Hergott run 10 km in 50 km triathlon for Amelia Rising Sexual Violence Support Centre in North Bay. June 4/23 (Eric Taschner/CTV Northern Ontario)
SEEKING HELP
A survivor of childhood trauma and former Amelia Rising client, Chelsea LeBlanc said she found herself in a difficult relationship and became re-traumatized.
That is when she reached out to the centre for support.
"One of the hardest things was walking through that door and admitting I really needed additional help," LeBlanc said.
"So I needed additional help and because Amelia Rising is specific to sexual violence survivors, it was the best place for me to go. Everybody heals at a different pace and it's a continuous journey."
Through her time accessing services and counselling, she found the services helped her in her healing but found out the centre faced long backlogs that still exist to this day.
"We have a wait list of almost 100 people and that translates to a four to fiv- month wait list," said Amelia Rising Sexual Violence Support Centre public education coordinator Natalie Austin.
"There are a few different areas at our centre that are in need. We are underfunded."
The need is what inspired LeBlanc to start the fundraiser.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
"They don't have a lot of money and their supplies were very limited," she said.
ON A MISSION
This year is her fourth annual 'I Tri For Amelia' triathlon, after starting the fundraiser in 2020 to help other survivors.
To date, LeBlanc has raised more than $5,500 for the centre.
Last year, she completed the 40 km North Bay Triathlon Route.
Pushing off into the cool waters of Trout Lake on Sunday morning with LeBlanc was her friend Tyler Hergott.
Childhood trauma survivor swims 1.5 km in Trout Creek as part of a 50 km I Tri for Amelia fundraiser for the North Bay sexual violence support centre. June 4/23 (Eric Taschner/CTV Northern Ontario)
They are on a mission to help as many gender-based violence survivors as they can.
After a quick lap in the calm waters, LeBlanc and Hergott hopped on their bikes pedaling away before dropping them for the final lap – running a 10 km run completing the length of an Olympic triathlon.
Chelsea LeBlanc cycles 40 km in the I Tri for Amelia, a fundraiser for a local sexual violence support centre in North Bay. June 4/23 (Eric Taschner/CTV Northern Ontario)
As she pushed through the triathlon, LeBlanc said she hoped to inspire other victims to seek the help they need.
"The first step is making that phone call," she said.
Left to right: Tyler Hergott, Chelsea LeBlanc and her partner Eric. June 4/23 (Eric Taschner/CTV Northern Ontario)
To learn more about her fundraiser or to donate, click here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.