Photos by Forrest Adams: Benjamin LeSage jogs on Lake Ann Beach and Jonathan LeSage rides bike toward the lake.

Jonathan LeSage

Training for a miracle
By Forrest Adams

They run, bike and swim in a triathlon on behalf of other kids who can’t participate. They're called MiracleKids.

“Kids racing for kids who can’t” is the theme, and the MiracleKids Triathlon returns to Chanhassen’s Lake Ann Park for a fifth consecutive year at 8 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 16.

The main fundraiser for the Miracles of Mitch Foundation, an organization that was formed in Chanhassen in 2003 to help the families of kids with cancer, it features hundreds of kids wearing the #1 on their shirt, racing to raise money for the families of kids with cancer.

Miracles of Mitch Foundation vice chairman Mike LeSage said he expects about 800 participants in the Lake Ann Park event. Last year about 700 kids participated in the event, despite overcast and cold weather. He said registrations are coming in faster this year.

The miracle

Kids’ looking within themselves for strength to compete in these events is the miracle of it all, said Lesage.

“Maybe they’ve done the swimming. Maybe they’ve done the biking. Maybe they’ve done the swimming. By putting them into one event, they are making their own miracle” said LeSage. “They’re sacrificing. They spend time raising funds. They’re challenging their friends to get involved. They are helping families.”

His children are all involved in the triathlon. Courtney LeSage, 9, is in her fourth year as a MiracleKid. Jonathan LeSage, 8, is in his second. Benjamin LeSage, 6, is trying to follow their example as he prepares for his first. The youngest LeSage, Mitch, 2, isn’t quite there yet.

Jonathan said in last year’s race he grew stronger the more he thought about why he was racing.

“When I did it, I thought about my person. His name was Nicholas. When I got tired on the bike, I would think about Nicholas, and I’d want to keep on going,” Jonathan said.

Each participant has the name and age of a child with cancer written on their leg. The LeSage parents agree that they think the triathlon gives their kids a great opportunity to help others.

“The beauty of it is that in our society there is so much emphasis on being number 1 and competing to be number 1. This is about helping others. In this race everybody wears number 1,” Mike said.