Several local women have taken part in Tri for a Cure, an all-women triathlon to raise money for cancer patient support, research and education programs.

The triathlon consists of a 1/3-mile swim, a 15-mile bike ride and a 3.1-mile run. Founded by Maine resident and cancer survivor Julie Marchese, the race is held every year in Portland at Southern Maine Community College.

Marchese participated in a similar event in the Boston area and was so touched she looked into starting one up in Maine. “...I decided after my treatment I wanted to challenge my body... I have never been an athlete all my life. I hadn’t done any of those things since I was 15 years old, so it was really gratifying to cross that finish line,” she said.

In the first year Tri for a Cure raised more than $250,000 for the Maine Cancer Foundation, a Maine-based cancer research organization that distributes funds to a variety of Maine cancer patient support, research and education programs.

Though she has never raced in Tri for a Cure, Marchese has participated in more than 20 triathlons and races since her first experience in Boston in 2006. She also assists in running more than a dozen clinics throughout the year. “The thing that I thought was important was training women,” Marchese said. “We make them feel comfortable about racing.”

Tri for a Cure is in its fifth year and expects 1200 participants. More than 500 of the women have not participated in a triathlon before.

Boothbay region locals Dianne Gimbel, Lesley Blethen, Gena Canning, Aimee Case and Mary Kate Reny have participated in the triathlon in the past. Gimbel, Canning and Reny will be participating again this year. Spots in the popular race were selected at random this year, so not everyone was able to race.

In 2010, Gimbel participated in her first race as a “celebration of life,” she said, as she was turning 50. Shortly before, she lost her close friend Deb, a wife and mother of two young children, to cancer. A few days before the race, she also lost her father. Despite being grief stricken, Gimbel chose to participate in the event.

She has run the race every year since. “They’re always with me,” she said. She is excited about participating once again this summer.

Canning’s business partners at the Pine State Trading Company, who also happened to be family members, agreed to sponsor the event – but only if Canning would participate. Canning’s husband was undergoing treatment for brain cancer at the time.

“They just sensed that it would be good for me to be involved in this event,” Canning said. She says the experience is a physical, mental and emotional challenge. “Often when I’m running or biking or doing something that for me is difficult, I think of my husband and all of the treatments he went through to try to stay alive longer for us.”

Canning’s husband passed away last year.

“I’ve lost my husband to cancer, and I’m not alone. A lot of people have lost loved ones to cancer... I was really given so much love and support that it was a way for me to give back,” Canning said.

For more information about the “Tri for a Cure” triathlon, go to www.mainetriforacure.org. To sponsor Dianne Gimbel, Gena Canning, or any of the other participants, go to the website and click the “Donate to an Athlete” tab.

For more information about the Maine Cancer Foundation, go to www.mainetriforacure.org.