Light flurries fell as approximately 30 people, students along with the general public, gathered for the fifth annual Conquer the Escarpment Shelby Dickey Memorial Fun Run/Walk on Sunday morning.
Hosted by Nipissing University, the event, in support of the Lakers Nordic Ski Team, celebrated the memory of Nipissing alumnus Shelby Dickey.
Dickey’s life was cut short at the young age of 24, as a result of injuries sustained in a cycling accident in North Bay.
See: Former Lakers athlete victim in Highway 63 fatality
And: Teen charged with careless driving in Highway 63 bicycling death
“Shelby was tragically killed in 2019 by a distracted motorist while she was out cycling and training,” explained Toivo Koivukoski, head coach of the Nipissing Nordic Ski Team and Associate Professor at Nipissing University.
Dickey had a passion for cross-country skiing.
“Shelby was amazing. She was a real spirited young woman, a real natural leader on the team. A fiercely loyal teammate and also an excellent athlete and student. She represented Canada at the World University Games in Kazakhstan. It is a multi-sport event held every two years. So, she got to wear the maple leaf there and was the top Canadian skier in one of those races,” shared Koivukoski, her coach
The Nipissing alumnus was a Bachelor of Physical Education graduate and was just days away from defending her Master’s thesis on Environmental Stress in Relation to Athlete performance and earning her Masters Degree in Human Physiology at Nipissing.
A talented athlete, Dickey was co-captain of the Lakers Nordic Ski team.
In memory of this young woman, participants had the option of running or walking the 4.5-kilometre course, which started at the Founders House Residence on Gormanville Road and ended at the Nipissing University Student Union Student Centre on College Drive.
Monetary donations will support the Lakers Nordic Ski Team, currently comprised of 16 athletes, by helping to cover travel costs.
“This will help the team to attend races; Canadian National Championships, qualifiers for the World University Games and Ontario Cup Races,” stated Koivukoski.
Her legacy lives on.
“Her legacy lives on through the scholarship established in her name and this annual event, which encourages everyone to enjoy the outdoors while challenging themselves,” said Koivukoski,
“The scholarship goes to a female Nordic Skier on the team who demonstrates leadership, and excellence in academics and athletics. So, that is a $500 scholarship that is awarded every year.”
See: New scholarship honours cycling accident victim
The walk/run celebrates her spirit and her love of getting outdoors and training, especially with teammates, helping them out, in anyway she could.
“So, she is still doing that. Shelby would say, ‘You can do anything for 10 seconds, and then 10 seconds more, and then 10 seconds more. It is a good little coaching tip,” laughed Koivukoski.
People who were unable to participate can support the team with a donation to the Adopt-a-Laker program.
