Our Crowdfunding Groups
Welcome to the Crowdfunding Page of the Cal Club Triathlon Team! Thank you for taking the time to view our page. We hope you enjoy learning about our team and will consider making a donation!
The Triathlon Club at UC Berkeley is a family, ranging from first-time swimmers, cyclists, and runners to elite athletes who are aspiring to be National Champions, as well as all talents in between. Our success can be largely attributed to the commitment of our club members as well as the support provided by a fantastic group of student coaches, 4 head and assistant coaches, and 19 board members, who dedicate their own time to help each team member excel in training and have fun through the sport. We pride ourselves on being a no-cut, welcoming and inclusive team, open to any UC Berkeley student who wants to learn more about the multi-sport lifestyle, achieve their highest athletic potential, or simply find a supportive family here at Cal.
The pandemic has made it difficult for us to train and spend time together like we used to but we are finding ways to stay connected. We have not been able to have an in-person practice since last March but we have virtual workouts (see image below) and our coaches have sent out training plans every single week. All our races this year have been cancelled but we’ve found our own ways to stay competitive. What started as a personal time trial competition designed by our head coach, Dean Harper, has turned into a national event. Last semester “Dean’s Challenge” received over 100 entries and gave away $6,000 in prize money, and we only expect it to get bigger this semester. Cal Tri not only strives to better ourselves but also continues to lead the way for all collegiate triathletes.
Monday Zoom Trainer Session Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging have always been key beliefs of our team and in light of the Black Lives Matter other social movements gaining momentum this year, we have launched the Cal Triversity Initiative. The mission of the Cal Triversity Initiative is to encourage and support the involvement of historically underrepresented and disadvantaged groups within the Cal multisport community. Our team and the sport of Triathlon as a whole lacks ethnic and socio-economic diversity. This year we are putting 15% of the money we raise from crowdfunding directly to the Cal Triversity Initiative so we can increase outreach, financial support, and mentorship to make our sport more accessible and equal for all.
We are asking for your support because we are a student-run athletic club that receives no financial support from the school. We are one of the largest sports clubs at Berkeley, the largest collegiate triathlon team in the country and one of the most decorated collegiate triathlon teams in history. We have achieved all of this merely through the financial backing of team fundraising efforts and membership dues, alongside the countless hours our coaches volunteer for the team.
The cost of training equipment, dues, and race travel is an expensive undertaking for any college student and a barrier for those hoping to get involved in the sport. For a regular semester, the bare minimum, in order to fully participate in Cal Triathlon requires a starting cost of $2500, plus $1000 for each subsequent year of participation. We seek to bring the triathlon lifestyle to anyone who is interested, regardless of their financial ability to participate.
Because of the pandemic we’ve cut our dues by 92% and had to halt most of our usual activities; however, it has allowed us to take a closer look at our team’s resilience. Your financial assistance will boost us into our next possible race season and help support our athletes’ “consistent hard work over time” (as our coach, Dean Harper, would say). A more detailed breakdown of how we will use your funds can be found below:
Your support of our student-run, student-funded team is crucial. Please consider donating and sharing this page! Thank you!
If you would like to see more of us, check out our social media pages:
Any questions? Email grace.dwyer@berkeley.edu
Cal Tri will give you a shoutout on one our very popular social media pages!
You will receive a personalized thank you video from the team!
A personalized thank you note from a team member you directly impacted!
We would love to send you a photo of the great team you have supported!
We will be able to provide a scholarship to one future athlete for team dues and they will know it came directly from you!
