Showcase

‘Everyone’s a winner’

For the Moses family of Nassau Bay, Texas, competing in the Kiwanis Kids Triathlon Series has become a way of life. And, it’s been quite a ride.

A bicyclist takes a second to smile for the camera.

Two young athletes sprint to the finish in the Kiwanis Kids Triathlon this past June. The race was sponsored by the Houston Sunrise and Greater North Houston Kiwanis clubs.

“I have six kids,” says father Rex Moses. “Five have raced in Kiwanis Kids since the beginning, and four have graduated out of the series. My kids want to do the races, and I require that if they want me to take them to the race, they have to train for it.”

That’s fine with 10-year-old Brendan Moses, who just finished his competition in Race 2, sponsored by the Houston Sunrise Breakfast and Greater North Houston Kiwanis clubs.

“The races are fun!” he says. “I like competing. Swimming is my strongest part. I want to do the next three races!”

Kiwanis clubs in the greater Houston area have been staging the triathlons for the past 11 years. The series is open to boys and girls ages 7-12 and includes swimming, cycling, and running. Each summer, more than 500 young athletes take part. This year, there were six different races, run May through September. Five Kiwanis clubs organize the events, with much-needed help from Key Clubbers.

“This is also a great Key Club event,” says Tammy Heinrich, Division 3 coordinator of the triathlon series. “It’s a great project for them to partner with their sponsoring Kiwanis club.”

Each athlete receives a medal, water bottle, and T-shirt. The top three boys and girls in each age group also receive a trophy.

“We are seeing kids growing up in the Kiwanis Kids Triathlon,” Tammy says. “We see many of the same families returning year after year. Now they ask me, ‘When will you raise the age limits so my kids can keep racing?’

“These races are a lot of hard work, but when you see those kids crossing the finish line, it’s worth it. It’s a great feeling watching the parents cheer for their kids and encourage them. It’s just a feel-good event. Everyone’s a winner at Kiwanis Kids; that’s what we always say.”