When Aubrey Kirschman lines up at the starting line of the Ironkids race in Florida next month, she’s going to be thinking about her dad.
“I’m really happy I’m doing this for him,” she said.
The eight-year-old from Meadow Lake, Sask., was not originally meant to race. Her dad Robert Kirschman was the one originally training for a half-Ironman triathlon in Florida.
Robert has a rare form of cancer, a gastrointestinal stromal tumour known as GIST, and made the decision to withdraw from the competition earlier this year.
Determined to support her father’s legacy, Aubrey decided to step in and honour him by doing the Ironkids, made up of a 100-metre swim and a one-mile run, at the same Florida Ironman event.
“I’m excited that even at eight years old, she wants to get that experience,” Robert said. “I think there’s a lot of life lessons in that.”
Aubrey’s triathlon is not only a personal challenge. She’s also turned it into a fundraising effort, as her father did before her.
She is raising money for the Life Raft Group, a GIST advocacy organization leading research to better understand her father’s illness.
The family has a Facebook profile where Aubrey uploads videos of her training and promotes her fundraiser. The campaign has quickly gained attention with friends, family and even strangers showing their support.
“My swim club gave me a card that had a bunch of names and a neck warmer and a water bottle and a fanny pack, so I’m really grateful for them,” said Aubrey.
She has already raised $2,200 in addition to the $6,200 her dad’s previous campaign made.
- CBC’s Make The Season Kind campaign is raising money for the Food Banks of Saskatchewan. Join us for a special event and live broadcast of The 306 on Dec. 5.
Raising funds and awareness
The Kirschman family started the fundraiser in December last year, when Robert was still planning to do the half-Ironman.
“It was kind of our family focusing on something different and something positive,” said Chelsea Kirschman, Robert’s wife.
Robert, whose illness has been classified as Stage 4, said medication made it impossible for him to do any training starting about two months ago.
“It was just fatigue, like I was spending a lot of time in bed,” said Robert. “I really delayed and delayed and eventually I kind of had to make the call.”
Aubrey, who had been training alongside her dad, was asked if she would be willing to compete on his behalf.
“I said, ‘sure, I’ll do it, how far is the run?'” Aubrey said.
Since then, her community has rallied behind her.
“We have a lot of family coming with us as well down to Florida, because originally we were all coming down to watch Bob race, and now everyone can come and watch Aubrey,” Chelsea said.
Robert Kirschman hopes to raise money and awareness for the rare ‘gastrointestinal stromal tumour’ cancer he is suffering from.
Encouragement without expectation
Aubrey said she’s just hoping to do her best. She trains at home whenever she is able to. It has even become a family affair.
“I train when my dad’s feeling like it and I swim on Wednesdays and Thursdays,” said Aubrey.
Robert said he’s not putting any pressure on her to compete.
“Being eight years old, if it kind of hurts and it isn’t fun then she doesn’t want to do it,” said Robert. “But it’s getting those lessons down that sometimes things that are hard are worth doing.”
The Kirschmans say they hope both Aubrey and their three-year-old daughter Ella can carry some lessons from this experience on in life.
“I think valuing each other has been a big part about our journey, and valuing our time together, and making the most of the moments we have,” said Chelsea.
“Even if it’s downstairs watching Aubrey doing sprints on the treadmill, we are all down there cheering her on, helping her with her timer. Even the three-year-old is waiting for her turn on the treadmill next, so that’s been really good.”