Going the Distance
“I went for the fullest, biggest thing possible,” says Desjardins, who completed the most intense version of a triathlon in September 2025 in 12 hours and 26 minutes. “I just wanted to go for it.”
Desjardins transferred to the College in 2024 to major in environmental and sustainability studies. He found community through the M.A.R.S.H. Project, a local grassroots organization committed to restoring and preserving marshland in Charleston; friends on campus; and co-workers at Ethos Athletic Club, where he works part-time.
But as a former, longtime soccer player, he felt something was missing off the pitch. Many of his co-workers were training for races and athletic events, inspiring him to find his own project.
“I decided to sign up, and I got the fundraising idea from one of my old high school soccer teammates,” says Desjardins. “He was in Charleston training for an Ironman at the same time and decided to raise money for cancer awareness. I realized there was nothing stopping me from doing this for a good cause and to do the race not just for me but for a bigger purpose.”
An aspiring environmental conservationist, Desjardins raised more than $1,500 for the M.A.R.S.H. Project. He learned about the organization through associate professor of international studies, Blake Scott, a co-founder of the group, which regularly hosts cleanups, sustainability lectures, gardening sessions and more.
“They’re also advocating for being a good neighbor,” says Desjardins. “It’s not the most glamorous process picking up trash, but when you’re doing it, people are going by on golf carts beeping at you. The first time I went to a cleanup, a mom and daughter drove by, and the little girl said, ‘That looks like fun,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, it is fun.’”
After a summer internship with the M.A.R.S.H. Project, Desjardins decided to channel his energy into raising money and awareness for the cause and training for the race, which he did for three months. As a soccer player, running came naturally to him and he felt confident in his long-distance ability, but he knew the swim segment would be a challenge.
“Swimming is definitely the hardest, especially in a triathlon setting,” he says, noting the dunks, kicks and hits competitors take from other swimmers. To ensure he felt prepared, Desjardins trained for every possible scenario. “I would swim by the dock and have my friends hit me with a paddle,” he adds, laughing. “It worked though!”
Desjardins completed the event after racing along the Choptank River, swimming in its brackish tidal waters and cycling through the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge before reaching the finish line, where his family waited, cheering him on.
“I was super happy with the experience,” he says, “and I’ll definitely be signing up for another one in the future with hopes of finishing with a time that will compete with the best.”