| Natarsha Jazepczyk and Mark Feeney in bicycle training for the XTERRA... Natarsha Jazepczyk and Mark Feeney in bicycle training for the XTERRA world championships. Photo by: Simone Gardiner |  |
Natarsha and Mark on hill training in preparation for the gru...
Natarsha and Mark on hill training in preparation for the gruelling XTERRA world championships. Photo by: Simone Gardiner |
Sport and charity to fight breast cancer
24 Oct 2007 | Bernie Goldie
Mark Feeney (recent graduate of UOW) and Natarsha Jazepczyk (Personnel Services, UOW) will use their participation in the forthcoming XTERRA World Championships to help in the fight against breast cancer.
They have teamed up with Holly Tootell (Lecturer from the School of Information Systems and Technology and organiser of the breast cancer breakfast) to raise funds and awareness about the importance of research in finding a cure for the cause of the disease.
“We have joined together with the hope of raising in excess of $15,000 by October 31 in the fight against breast cancer,” Natarsha said.
Although Mark and Natarsha will not be able to make the big breakfast function this year due to it clashing with their competition, a video has been organised on their behalf that will be shown during the breakfast.
Mark and Natarsha have again been chosen to compete in what is known as the world’s toughest off-road triathlon.
The race consists of a 1.5km ocean swim, 30km mountain bike ride (with over a 1,000 metre vertical climb up the slopes of Maui’s Haleakala volcano), and an 11km cross country run covering a dozen different surfaces from sand to lava rock.
The world championship is limited to 500 of the world's best XTERRA athletes who have qualified at events around the world. It will be televised for a one-hour feature during the Super Bowl in the United States and internationally.
Mark and Natarsha have been training partners since their success in Hawaii last year with Mark finishing seventh and Natarsha 11th. They have been mountain bike/triathlon competitors for several years competing in mountain bike endurance events as well as road triathlons and cross country racing.
Holly Tootell is now organising her 5th Pink Ribbon Breakfast at the University of Wollongong. Almost 500 of the available tickets have already been sold for the breakfast taking place on October 31.
Anyone wishing to contribute in any way to the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s breast cancer research program should contact Holly Tootell on 4221 5603.
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