Sunday, September 11, 2022 marked the 14th year that Jett Foundation’s Gals for Cal team of women made their presence known in Hopkinton for the annual Title 9 Triathlon. Led by team captains Cindy Quitzau and Annie Ganot, the team fielded nearly 50 Gals at this year’s race.
The Gals for Cal team began competing in 2008 after Cindy’s son, Cal Quitzau, was diagnosed with Duchenne. Cindy sought to challenge herself and Duchenne while raising funds and awareness for Jett Foundation.
“Even after 14 years, this annual event never gets old,” says Cindy. “The Gals for Cal represent so much more than the excitement of race day itself. We have women of all shapes, sizes, and abilities who come together for the challenge and come away with so much more! My favorite goodbye from a Gal after their race is telling me they’ll be back next year.”
Among our 2022 Gals for Cal team are 5 mothers who competed for their children. A special shoutout goes to Kathy Pothier and her daughter Ella who compete for their son/brother Keelan, Lori Safford who competes for her two sons Ben and Sam, Lisa Shortlidge who moves for her son David, Annie Ganot who competes for Eytani, Kristen McGourty moving for her son Liam, and Cindy Quitzau who founded the team in honor of her son Cal.
Kathy Pothier and her family are facing challenges that Duchenne brings, such as preparing safe and accessible transportation for her son Keelan. But that has not stopped them from supporting others in the Duchenne community. This year marked Kathy’s 12th appearance on the team, and her daughter Ella’s first.
Kathy says, “I’m in a position to do something to help others in our community, which makes me very happy. Our focus these days is on quality of life. Keelan is now an 8th grader and his big sister Ella is a senior in high school. I’m very proud of how far both kids have come and how we’ve fared as a family.”
The 2022 team has raised over $21,000 to support Jett Foundation’s programs and resources for families impacted by Duchenne. Our top fundraiser and recruiter is Annie Ganot who raised over $6,000 toward the team’s goal and has recruited many triathletes through her family, friends, and coworkers.
Annie says, “For seven years I have had the honor and privilege of competing in the Title 9 Triathlon with the Gals for Cal. And this year’s race certainly did not disappoint! The sisterhood of fellow Duchenne moms and our incredibly supportive friends, all challenging ourselves for a single cause, is life-affirming. With Cindy as our fearless leader and the army of support from Jett Foundation, this team continues to thrive and grow!”
Hopkinton’s course contains a ¼ mile swim, 10 mile bike ride, and 5k run. The team’s top three finishers were Alicia Collins (1:18:21), Paige Supples (1:22:39), and Cheryl Chickowski (1:23:54). Congratulations to all who completed the three-leg course! Full results can be viewed here.
Our Go! for Duchenne events, including the Gals for Cal triathlon, would not be possible without the support of our sponsors. Thank you to Solid Biosciences for supporting our Gals team again this year!
Mark your calendars for Sunday, September 10, 2023 as the Gals embark on their 15th annual triathlon!
