"A love fest with sweat"
Over 75 volunteers from the Íæż½ã½ã's community will be stationed along all 15 miles of the course as Team Katie — 100 strong, and headed by President Roloff — swims, bikes and runs to the finish line of the 10th annual YWCA Women's Triathlon.
Ten years ago, President ReBecca Roloff '76 founded the annual race during her tenure as YWCA Minneapolis president and chief executive officer. The race was initiated after the YWCA team recognized "a gap — no all-women triathletes in the region — that we were in a unique position to fill," Roloff says. "The YWCA mission of eliminating racism and empowering women and girls provided a great opportunity to encourage women to just 'tri.'"
Nicole Cueno, director of the Women's Tri, recalls President Roloff's strong support for the race and its mission. "As CEO and President of YWCA Minneapolis, Becky advocated so strongly to embed the race in the fabric of the organization," she notes.
And now, as Íæż½ã½ã's President, Roloff brings her love for the race and its vision home to her alma mater — where the passion is clearly already there.
"Our mission and the YWCA mission align in a wonderful way," she says. "We're thankful to find those points of intersection of vision, passion and commitment, and to work together so that Íæż½ã½ã's and YWCA Minneapolis can be even stronger."