The idea of a new club started in a junior’s mind during Spanish class and now has turned into a space that encourages physical and mental well-being.

The newly founded Triathlon Club aims to improve both the mental and physical well-being of students while also harnessing a competitive atmosphere when competing in events.

Founder of the Triathlon Club and junior Harry Ferguson said that fitness and exercise is a great opportunity to make self improvements and is also a way to raise awareness for those facing mental struggles.

“I believe that fitness is working towards that goal of being a better version of yourself and is one of the best ways to just be happier overall,” Ferguson said. “And then along the way there’s also that opportunity to raise awareness that there are a lot of people that have problems with mental health and this is a way to be able to bring that to light through an active event.”

Ferguson said there are ongoing fundraising efforts by the club to raise money for entries into triathlons and also to donate directly to the Jed foundation, an organization focused on the fight against the current mental health crisis in the United States.

“Some of the proceeds will go towards our triathletes because it is expensive – the race itself is around 100 dollars and then people need to get there,” Ferguson said. “But most of it will go to the Jed Foundation, which is a foundation that helps youth with mental health and suicide prevention.”

As the club tries to raise the funds and awareness for their races and cause, they are also planning on competing in the Northeast Opener in Hopkinton this summer.

Jack Maloney, a member of the recently created club and junior, said the club plans to make the inaugural triathlon a team effort.

“The one [triathlon] that we are doing is a quarter-mile swim onto a ten-mile bike ride and then a finish with a five kilometer run or 3.1 miles,” Maloney said. “There will be one with a relay where there’s three people on a team, each doing a part of the leg of the race, and then two weeks later, there’s going to be a group of three or four people doing a complete one where they swim, bike and then run.”

Maloney also said that while this club is a great opportunity to get in shape and pick up a new hobby, it is mainly driven by their mission to support mental health.

“The goal isn’t to get a fast triathlon time,” Maloney said. “The goal is for the charity aspect and to really help those people and help that foundation.”

Junior and member of the club Jamie Evarts said when he first got involved in the club he was excited to get in shape and said he plans to complete on his own in a triathlon this spring.

“I was reached out to by Harry Ferguson and we basically both discussed the possibility of this via social media and I jumped on board,” Evarts said. “My plan is to run the entire triathlon on my own and also be part of a relay team as a biker.”

Evarts also said his inexperience in triathlons fuels his curiosity and urge to try something new with his friends at school.

“I’ve honestly never ran a triathlon before,” Evarts said. “I’m excited about trying this out and I think it’s just a great opportunity to just be in shape.”

Ferguson said that he wants the club to be a place where everyone is welcome and can come and eventually compete, no matter how experienced or inexperienced they are.

“I think the dream would be for it to be open for anyone to join,” Ferguson said. “I think the best idea would be to join and train with us, and then hopefully someday in the future or at a later event, participate in one of them or do your own full one.”