LAKE PLACID, N.Y.-As part of the Janus Charity Challenge, a continuing program at Ironman North America events in the U.S., Ironman triathletes and Janus raised more than $500,000 for charity at the 2002 HSBC Ironman USA Lake Placid triathlon.
  The Janus Charity Challenge is a program where triathletes competing in Ironman North America events in the United States are "challenged" by Janus to use the race to raise money for charity.
  The top three fund raisers at each individual event get rewarded with additional funds being donated by Janus to the charity that the athlete raced for  ($ 10,000 to the first-place fund raiser, $ 5,000 for second-place and $ 3,000 for third place ) .
  There is also a team component, as the beneficiary of the top team fundraiser will receive an additional $8,500.00.  
  The 2002 HSBC Ironman USA Lake Placid triathlon has proven to be the most successful event for the Janus Charity Challenge to date. Twenty-six individual athletes and 3 teams raised a total of $507,369.00 (including the additional contributions from Janus.)
  With two Ironman North America events in the U.S. still to take place in 2002 (Ironman Wisconsin in September and Ironman Florida in November) the Janus Charity Challenge has raised more than $700,000, well on its way to the one million dollar goal for 2002.
  "Janus is extremely pleased at the way the Janus Charity Challenge has taken off." says Casey Cortese, sponsorship marketing manager for Janus.  "The athletes who choose to participate in this program truly exemplify the true spirit of Ironman, that of commitment and courage and tenacity.  They have made a difference in the lives of thousands, and we commend them."


  For more information on this release, or on the Janus Charity Challenge, contact Ironman North America Communications Director Shane Facteau at 518-523-2665 or via e-mail at facteau@capital.net.


Janus Charity Challenge results for the 2002
HSBC Ironman USA Lake Placid Triathlon    

1st Place-Captain Eric Kapitulik (Annapolis, Md.)-Eric  raised funds for the Force Recon Scholarship Fund. Eric raised $33,218.00. Janus will make a $10,000.00 contribution to the scholarship fund, and Eric will receive a free entry to the Ironman North America race of his choice in the next year.

2nd Place-Kyle Damon, Jr., (Arlington, Mass.)-Kyle raised $22,175 for Educators for Social Responsibility, the Resolving Conflict Creatively Program. ESR will receive an additional donation of $5,000.00 from Janus.

3rd Place-Mike Zafirovski (Chicago, Ill.)-Mike raised $22,000.00 for Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Children's Memorial Hospital will receive an extra donation of $3,000.00

First-Place Team-Northern California Chapter, Team in Training-Leukemia&Lymphoma Society- A team of 23 athletes organized by Barb Smalley, Raised $187,550 for the Northern California Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Due to the team's efforts, their beneficiary will receive an additional $8,500.00 for their cause.

  Congratulations also to the following athletes/teams who will all have an additional $750.00 contribution made to their nonprofit beneficiary as a result of their fundraising success.

Al Lyman and team members Jeff Kozlowski, Vince Antonelli and Gary Trombley-Eastern Connecticut Community Foundation
Chris Hebert-The Jeni Fund
Neil Fraser-the Northern California Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Lawrence Weinberg-The Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund
Sharon Mims-Challenged Athletes Foundation
Robert Lammey-Mark Abrams Memorial Foundation
Kimberly Campbell-NY City Burn Center Foundation
Matt Gibble-North Jersey Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation
Reverend Daniel Callahan-St. Joseph's Rehabilitation Center, Inc.
Diana Hassel-American Brain Tumor Association
Gail Marion Ayotte-American Heart Association of the Westchester/Putnam Region
Curt Girod-Junior Achievement
Ellen Brenner and team members Gae Orsini and Mary-Michal Eggers-American Cancer Society
Douglas Klein-Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
Terry Dailey-Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic, Inc.
William Bentley-Charlotte Hall Veterans Home
Bruce Linton-American Diabetes Association, Vermont Office
Dick Shaffer-Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, New York
Andrew Maskery-Angel Flight of New England, Inc.
Sean Robbins-Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northeastern Pennsylvania
Penelope Douglas-Silicon Valley Community Ventures
James Monahan-National MS Society/Central Jersey Chapter
Brain Hanley-National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance
Brian Payne-Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
Matt Maloney-15 MEU Scholarship Fund

For Janus Charity Challenge Info and Guidelines, CLICK HERE