Adventure Studies alumnus Matt Kellow will be teaming up with another alum, Sharman Learie, in late June for Yukon Quest, which one of the word’s demanding races. The two will paddle the 715-kilometre journey from Whitehorse to Dawson City in a tandem kayak. Learie is a faculty member in Adventure Studies as well as being the program’s chairperson.
Update: As of June 12, 66 teams were officially registered (C2 24, C1 5, K2 14, K1 15, VC 8) and making up 13 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, French Polynesia, Great Britain, Guatemala, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, and United States.
Two TRU Adventure Studies alumni have signed up for one of the world’s toughest endurance races, the 715-kilometre Yukon River Quest.
Sharman Learie and Matt Kellow will race a tandem kayak in an event that has kayakers and canoeists paddling day and night the 715 kilometres 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,” says Learie, who also serves as chairperson of TRU’s Adventure Studies program, and has been an instructor at TRU for 11 years.
Kellow is the 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,” says Kellow.
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 www.tru.ca/makeagift and select “Specific Scholarship or Award” and then in “Award Name:” enter “Kellow & Learie Adventure Bursary.” Continue to follow the prompts to finish making your donation.
More information
Sharman Learie
Tel: 250-371-5841
Email: slearie@tru.ca
