Running, biking, and skating for a cause: Triathlon raises funds for Winnipeg homeless shelter

It may have been 20 C, but triathletes participating in Beat the Cold at The Forks on Sunday had warmth on their minds.

Beat the Cold, a triathlon in which participants complete a 5K run, 5K bike, and 5K skate on the Assiniboine River, took place Sunday, raising funds for 1JustCity's Just a Warm Sleep emergency warming centre.

• 'Beat the Cold' triathlon aims to shine light on perils of winter homelessness

• Overnight warming shelter expanding, set to open during cold snap

Race organizer Luke Rempel said most of the people participating have never done a triathlon before.

"It's really attracted quite the population of people who are out here wanting to help a good cause," Rempel said.

The event's participants raised $10,000 for the overnight pop-up emergency centre, which gives people experiencing homelessness a warm place to sleep.

The funding allows the centre, housed atAugustine United Church in Osborne Village, to operate until the end of its season at the end of March.

"We're out here for one hour, meanwhile there's people who have to walk all night long just to stay warm and they don't have the option of going inside," Rempel said.

"It's great that we have places for homeless people to stay," Fournier said, who pulled into first place about halfway into the bike portion of the race.

Ty Bargen a participant who was also sporting a frozen beard for the event said the wind was the coldest part, but overall he enjoyed the experience.

"It was so fun, what a unique event. It's great to be out on the river," he said. "That was the clincher for me, to be able to help out and be active."