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Cowichan mom set to take on a challenge

The Valley’s Lana Montgomery is taking on the Woman2Warrior challenge on Aug. 28.

The Valley’s Lana Montgomery is taking on the Woman2Warrior challenge on Aug. 28.

An all-women charity obstacle adventure race, the event is back for its second year on Aug. 28 at West Shore Parks & Recreation in Victoria’s Western Communities area.

Run by the B.C. Lions Society for Children with Disabilities, Woman2Warrior is one of several events organized by the non-profit to raise funds to benefit Easter Seals camps in B.C., including Camp Shawnigan.

Lana Montgomery’s daughter, Lydia, who was born with Kabuki Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, has been attending Easter Seals Camp Shawnigan for the past eight summers and Montgomery is participating in the challenge this year.

“It was my daughter’s suggestion and I mentioned it to some coworkers and there were quite a few keeners so we are in,” said Montgomery. “There are seven of us in it. We are the Shenanigans team.”

Woman2Warrior is an untimed, five-kilometre run that dares participants to hit the trails, track and grass around Victoria’s West Shore Parks & Recreation.

With a dozen obstacles designed to test strength, agility, balance and endurance, warriors are challenged to lift, climb, crawl, jump, run/walk, and possibly get a little wet and dirty.

With lots of volunteers on the course to provide support, encouragement and assistance if needed, the experience is nothing short of an adventure for everyone involved.

Montgomery said she was looking forward to it.

She enjoys running to keep herself fit and describes herself as “active” in her daily life, and she likes to help her daughter as well.

“She knows she has to stay active. And some of the ladies who are on the team are also quite active, but a couple of the others are pushing themselves out of their boundaries.”

Montgomery said her daughter has gained significantly from her eight years at the camp.

“Especially in independence, leaving home, going to sleep-away camp. She can go for another eight years, to the young adult camp. Going there, she’s overcome her anxiety. When I first took her there, she didn’t want me to leave and was anxious about the whole thing and every year has gotten easier. Every year she tries something new; she’s tried the water slide that goes from the dock into the lake, last year at camp-out she tried sleeping in a tent rather than staying in a cabin overnight.

“Also, when she was in school, it was great to have the same experiences as her peers: going away to summer camp and things like that,” she said.

Each obstacle course team member has committed to raising a minimum of $300 for the cause.

 

Anyone who wishes to donate can go onto the victoria.

woman2warrior.ca website, look under “fundraising” and find “Shenanigans” among the teams listed.