LANGLEY, B.C. – The 4th Annual Complete Champion Challenge, presented by Five & Two Network, raised $125K to help financially support Spartan student-athletes through need-based scholarships.
On May 27, the Spartans Complete Champion Challenge, which was supported by GLC Solutions, Janzen Insurance and Trading Post Eatery, saw Spartan student-athletes and staff complete a variety of “epic” activities in a crowd-funding style event to raise funds for fellow Spartans.
“We are so grateful for the “epic” events that our athletes and staff participated in and also for our ever-generous sponsors and donors who caught the vision of Spartans helping Spartans,” said Jeff Gamache, TWU Director of Athletics. “At some point in our lives we all need help, and we all need to learn generosity of time, talent and treasure. I love that about the CCC.”
Amongst a litany of impressive activities completed during the Complete Champion Challenge, men’s hockey forward Kolby Johnson’s effort stood above the rest. In a single day’s effort, Johnson completed four climbs, topping the Grouse Grind twice before climbing the Abby Grind twice.
Amongst many other impressive activities, Tyson Hofer (men’s volleyball player) completed a triathlon, Brynden MacTavish (women’s volleyball assistant coach) lifted 100,000 pounds of weight in a variety of lifts, Devin Hofsink (men’s volleyball player) cycled 100 kilometres, Michela Naccarato climbed 1,200m of elevation on her way up Ha Ling Peak, Sierra Halldorson (women’s soccer) rollerbladed 35 kilometres and several athletes did 1,000 push-ups.
As a group, the women’s basketball team went above and beyond in a unique way, completing 50 “acts of service” throughout the day while also completing a variety of epic activities.
As an extended part of the Complete Champion Challenge, a 13-person contingent of Spartans supporters raised $26K for need-based scholarships by cycling in the Valley GranFondo. Supported by jersey sponsors GLC Solutions, Janzen Insurance and Site Lines Architecture, the race featured three cyclists who completed the full 120km GranFondo, with the other 10 completing a variety of distances, including the MedioFondo (85km) and the PrestoFondo (50km).
“We are so excited to see how the whole Spartan community came together to help student-athletes who need a little extra help to be at TWU,” said Steve Scholz, Executive Director of the Spartan Foundation. “Together we will be able to help over 50 athletes get an extra $2,500 in need-based scholarships. We saw teammates who stepped up to raise extra funds to help keep friends and fellow Spartans at TWU. We had student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni and friends be creative and do some amazing ‘epic’ activities as part of the Complete Champion Challenge event. We had parents, grandparents, family, friends, fans and Spartan supporters from around the world all help in one way or another to support this important need-based scholarship fundraiser.
“It is such a blessing to see the Spartans give back and help others, either with a ‘gift of service or an epic activity.’ We are so thankful to all who donated, sponsored, supported and prayed for this event. We thank every participant for working hard and accomplishing so many amazing things.”
Over the four years of the Complete Champion Challenge, which has become an annual all-hands-on-deck summertime event, has raised $544K for need-based scholarships.
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women’s and men’s soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track & field, as well as women’s rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men’s rugby and women’s and men’s disc golf. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 14 U SPORTS team championships and 33 Canada West team championships.
About Spartan Foundation
The Spartan Foundation is a Canadian non-profit organization created by a group of individuals with a strong connection to Trinity Western University and Spartan Athletics. Their mission is to “invest in student-athletes today, which will help develop Complete Champions and leaders for tomorrow; all with the purpose to further God’s Kingdom.” The foundation’s goals include providing annual funding for the Spartan Athletics program, supporting scholarships, enhancing the Complete Champion ApproachTM, assisting financially stressed athletes, and promoting cross-cultural mission trips and community service initiatives.
About Trinity Western University
Recognized for quality, TWU has received seven consecutive A+ rankings for Quality of Teaching and Learning, holds three Canada Research Chairs, and wins national championships in CIS sports. More importantly, lives are changed at TWU through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education. With a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs, TWU equips leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
Title Sponsor – Five & Two Network
Gold Sponsor – GLC Solutions, Janzen Insurance & Trading Post
Silver Sponsor –
Bronze Sponsor –
Fondo Jersey Sponsor – GLC Solutions, Janzen Insurance & Sitelines Architecture
Thank you to our Jersey Sponsors: GLC Solutions, Site Lines Architecture & Janzen Insurance!
