Individuals looking for a challenge or just making a contribution to a worthy cause are encouraged to sign up for this year's Dawson City Triathlon.

The event is put on by the Dawson Women's Shelter and all of the proceeds raised will go towards the programs and services that it offers in the community.

"It's a great event," said Jean Hopkins, events co-ordinator for the Dawson Women's Shelter. "This is one of our biggest fund-raisers and it promotes a healthy lifestyle and recreation with Dawson City, so that is also a very positive thing."

This is the fourth annual triathlon to be held in Dawson City. The triathlon is scheduled to take place on July 12 in Dawson City and there are two categories participants can sign up for. The first is called the Gold Rush, which is the longer of the two.

The Gold Rush involves swimming 20 lengths in the Dawson City pool, cycling 10 km and running or walking five km.

The cycling portion of the triathlon in the Gold Rush category will include going around the outskirts of town as well as going up the Dome Road, which features a large hill.

The running challenge for the Gold Rush category also involves going around the outskirts of town and it concludes back in Dawson City on Front Street.

The second category is titled the Gold Poke, which involves swimming 10 lengths, cycling five km and running or walking three km.

The course for the Gold Poke involves biking along the outskirts of town and, which will also feature a hill.

The running portion in the Gold Poke takes place in the downtown interior of the city, which will be blocked off for the triathlon event.

The running challenge in the Gold Poke category will also conclude on Front Street, which was a popular change at the 2007 triathlon.

Before 2007, the Dawson City Triathlon finished in Minto Park, but Hopkins said there are advantages to concluding the event on Front Street.

"It's great because (more) people come out," she said. "It's right downtown, so everybody comes out of the shops and that's where everybody is kind of walking on a Saturday afternoon. So more people see people coming in and it's just better for the town and for people to be seen when they accomplish their triathlon."

The first heat is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in the Dawson City pool and the triathlon is expected to conclude around noon.

After the conclusion of the event, a silent auction and BBQ will be held around 12:30 p.m. Both the silent auction and BBQ will be on Front Street.

All proceeds from the BBQ and silent auction will also go towards the Dawson City Women's Shelter.

This is one the larger events that is held in Dawson City. In 2007, the Dawson City Triathlon had around 50 to 60 participants.

The event is open to anyone interested in participating. In the past, people have come from Whitehorse and Alaska, but for the most part it is Dawson City locals who make up the majority of the participants.

One of the great things about the Dawson City Triathlon is that participants can take part individually or as a team of three, with each member doing their preferred portion of the event.

The registration fee for the triathlon is $50 per person, which includes a T-shirt, race number and a free meal at the BBQ. Pledges sheets can be obtained by calling the Dawson City Women's Shelter at (867) 993-5086. The registration deadline is July 1.