Team Haiti To Compete In 2016 Boilermaker

Two athletes from Port-au-Prince, Haiti will be taking part in Sunday's Boilermaker.

32-year old Wilfid Mecena will compete in the 15K race with an above the knee amputation, while 37-year old Carl Chery will compete in the wheelchair division.

Mecena and Chery are participating in their first Boilermaker to represent their country and the needs of others with disabilities.  The Boilermaker will be Mecena's first road race.

Both athletes are working toward one day representing Haiti in the Paralympic Games.

Mecena and Chery are sponsored by the Haiti Rehab Project, an initiative started by Ginger Oliver of Faxton-St. Luke's Healthcare, and a team of providers from the Mohawk Valley Health System.

The team opened the area’s first rehabilitation clinic, the Centre Rehabilitation De L’Artibonite in Gonaives, Haiti, in January of this year.

There will be a wine tasting fundraiser at Mohawk Valley Winery on Friday from 6:00 to 10:00 to support travel costs for the athletes.