Door County Triathlon Donates $15,000 to Local Charities

The Door County Triathlon, which celebrated its fourth year this July, has donated $15,000 to the Door County YMCA and the Friends of the Door County Park System. Each charity received a check for $7,500 this month, bringing total distributions from the event to $35,000 over the past three years.

According to organizer Sean Ryan, this year’s event drew participants from 26 different states and generated an estimated 800 hotel room nights in the peninsula. Ryan credits “a growing sport combined with the natural tourism draw of Door County” for the success of the event. Organizers added a more challenging Half Iron distance event this year, requiring competitors to swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 miles and run 13.1 miles.

The swim, bike, run competition has grown rapidly over the past four years, from 500 participants in its 2005 debut to a capacity crowd of 1,000 each of the past two years. Organizers are seeking local public safety and government approval to convert to a two-day format beginning next year. This would allow for 2,000 participants over the course of two days. For more information, go to doorcountytriathlon.com.