When the starting gun sounds at the highly-anticipated Potcakeman Triathlon Saturday, one competitor will already be a winner. She’s Viviane Proffitt, teacher, wife, mother and animal lover who walked away with the Pet Food Institute’s pre-race prize, full body running gear and her entry fee paid.
“This is the second year that the Pet Food Institute (PFI) has held an essay contest ahead of the great event, the Potcakeman Triathlon, and when we saw Viviane’s entry posted on Potcakeman Triathlon’s page, we knew instantly we had a winner,” said PFI representative Sandra Kemp.
“How could anyone top a woman who has four dogs, including two rescue dogs and writes, ‘There is nothing like coming home to wagging tails, waiting for you to take them out for a walk, fun or cycle!’”
As it turned out, there was even more reason to applaud Proffitt. Along with four dogs, she has three hamsters, two guinea pigs, a husband and three children. And she rescues tadpoles.
Proffitt says she inherited her love for animals.
Viviane Proffitt, teacher, wife, mother and animal lover walked away with the Pet Food Institute’s pre-race prize, full body running gear and her entry fee paid.
“My mother is an animal fanatic,” said Proffitt, who teaches Spanish at the primary school level. “We lived in St. Martin and there was an area called the Lowlands where people would drop their stray animals. Mom would take them in. At one time we had 24 dogs.”
Though this will be the first time Proffitt will don a PFI dri-fit running suit, it won’t be her first time entering the race. She competed for the first time last year in the swim, cycle, run test of human endurance and won her age category.
This is the third year PFI has helped to sponsor the event organized by the non-profit organization BAARK (Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness). Funds raised go toward the spay/neuter and education programs throughout The Bahamas. The organization has spearheaded efforts with veterinarians and other volunteers assisting in more than 7,000 sterilizations since its founding in 2010, more than 1,000 so far this year.
“PFI is proud to support efforts that bring awareness to the importance of the proper feeding and care of domestic pets,” said Kemp. “The problem of stray dogs is not unique to The Bahamas. Unfortunately, it is a challenge throughout the region and one of the reasons that the Pet Food Institute’s work is so important.”
Hundreds are expected to turn out to watch, volunteer or participate in the Potcakeman Triathlon set to start at 7:30 am at Jaws Beach. Events range from a splash ‘n dash for little tykes to Olympic distance race for serious athletes. There is even a ‘puppy tri’ for four-legged participants.
“This is probably going to be the most competitive series of races to date,” said race director Sarah Kennedy. “We have competitors traveling from the USA and Canada.”
The Pet Food Institute-Caribbean is a non-profit organisation that promotes initiatives to advance pet nutrition and the overall quality of pet food in The Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, and Jamaica. For more information please visit http://www.pficaribbean.com, or to showcase the pets you love, follow us on Facebook or Instagram @pficaribbean.
