TRU alumni sign up for Yukon Quest race

Two TRU Adventure Studies alumni have signed up for one of the world’s toughest endurance races, the 715-kilometre Yukon Quest.

Sharman Learie and Matt Kellow will race a tandem kayak in an event that has kayakers and canoeists paddling day and night from Whitehorse to Dawson City from June 25-29.

To further add meaning to the journey, the longtime friends and former roommates during their second year at TRU, are turning the race into a fundraiser to create a student bursary. It will be for an Adventure Studies student entering their second year, and the goal is to raise $10,000.

“We’ve seen first-hand the positive impact adventure activities and getting outside can have on a person’s life. The program can be profoundly transformative for students,” said Learie, who also serves as chairperson of TRU’s Adventure Studies program, and has been an instructor at TRU for 11 years.

Kellow is coordinator of Outdoor Recreation Programs at Vancouver Island University and also regularly witnesses the positive impacts the outdoors can have.

“With living costs continuing to go up, this is our small way of helping students with educational and professional goals,” he said.

The award will be for those demonstrating financial need and preference will be given to those with a passion for paddle sports.

During their second year at TRU, the two paddled from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy and since graduation, have participated or led expeditions in a variety of countries.

To pledge
 go to http://www.tru.ca/makeagift and find “Kellow & Learie Adventure Bursary.”

— TRU