Tricycle racing for charity

When we heard about this year’s Cancer Connection fundraiser Bill's Challenge VI & the Grand Trikathlon, we knew we wanted to participate. This was the sixth year of the annual event, which raises money through donations for this unique organization, which offers extensive, holistic rehabilitation services for cancer survivors. This year was also the third year that Bill’s Challenge was in the form of a Grand Trikathlon. Yes, that’s right, a trikathlon.

In the weeks preceding the event, left-click encouraged donations from customers, as well as from our friends and family members, to sponsor our teams in the race. On this past beautiful Sunday, competitors, judges, and spectators took over Look Park’s Garden House (and the large parking lot outside) in order to participate in this awesome event. Teams of three gathered to compete in a relay-style trike race, which not only involved mastery of tricycling, but also some baton-holding and tricky hopping, head-patting and stomach rubbing. Which, looking at our teams, some fared better at then others...

Participants paraded around the course before the race, and got the opportunity to show off their moves in front of the judges, who included Mayor Clare Higgins. Costumes were employed judiciously and fabulously by many of the teams, and team names were most often full of puns, like race-winners from Dartmouth, “I Think She Trikes Me”, or the third place “Trykes To Watch Out For” (now-ousted champions of the past two years). We were also a fan of the “Trikes Without Borders” team.

left-click went the menacing route in our names, and were represented by "Tiger Squad" (with Kelly, Dylan, and Josh) and "Dragon Squad" (made up of Colin, Sean and I). We were sadly un-costumed, but we’re already planning for next year! Watch out, judges.

In addition to the winners for speed, there were some lovely ribbons awarded; our teams won both “Most Successful Steering” AND “Most Challenging Steering”. We’re talented like that.

In addition to the race itself, the Garden House was set up with music, ice cream, and chair massages, where some of us enjoyed ice cream sundaes after a hard day of tricycling. Though we really couldn’t resist just spinning around in the parking lot a few more times after the race.

We had a great time, and so did the other participants. It was an amazing opportunity to support Cancer Connection and all the incredible work they do, and to spend time with some awesome members of the Northampton community. We’re definitely excited to participate again next year! Just check out Sean’s game face: can’t you tell we’re ready?

Here are some more awesome pictures!

You won't catch Kelly ridin' dirty.

I love my hair in this picture.

Dylan looking fierce.

Kelly enjoyed making Cancer Connection's insurance agent very nervous.

Skiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiid.

"Riding those trikes made my brain feel like THIS."

Cancer Connection's Anna-Beth Winograd MC'ed the event.

Josh brought some of his rugby showmanship to the table.

The 360 turning radius of the trikes turned out to be as much of a hindrance as a benefit. Extreme concentration required.

Pass the baton PASS IT

The face of crushing defeat.

Jessie is ready for action!

Who's cuter? NEITHER

Although not in competition, left-click programmer Rob couldn't help taking one of the trikes out for a spin.

And promptly crashing it.

Going, going...

Gone.