If you had to list the most influential people in the sport of swimming, you’d probably say Michael Phelps, the head of USA Swimming and FINA, but your list would be incomplete without one name: Janel Jorgensen.
I know Janel. We’ve been friends since the 1988 Olympics. I was an immature 19 year old, and she was a very mature 17 year old. You just knew by talking to her that she had everything figured out. The Olympics, so pressure-packed, can be overwhelming, and you notice when an athlete has their head on straight. Janel wasn’t going to leave the Seoul Olympics without a great performance. For her that was a silver medal swimming the butterfly leg on the women 4×100 medley relay.
While winning an Olympic medal is a great achievement, back then I never would’ve guessed that Janel’s selfless contribution to the sport would someday outshine her Olympic performance. Very few athletes can make that claim.
As the President of Swim Across America, the premier charity raising funds to support cancer research, prevention and treatment in the swimming community, Janel has been a one-woman juggernaut. She’s everywhere, traveling coast-to-coast, rallying Olympians, swim-parents, age-group swimmers, and master swimmers to the cause.
Swim Across American has raised a staggering $40 million through individuals and corporate partners, and always with an eye on authenticity. Janel only works with companies who understand, on an emotional level, the impact their support makes in people’s lives who are affected by this disease.
Endless Pools is a perfect partner for Swim Across America’s mission. Endless Pools has been an essential part of the swimming community for nearly 25 years and they have over 17,000 customers worldwide. More importantly, they understand the cancer-fighting benefits of a healthy lifestyle through swimming and water exercise.
“We’re excited to be working with Swim Across America on this initiative,” says Mark Langan, Marketing Director at Endless Pools. “If we can help save one life, the effort was worth it.”
In a creative effort to bring the swimming community together, Endless Pools and Swim Across America have launched a fundraising Sweepstakes to fund cancer research, prevention and treatment. With a simple $25 donation you are automatically entered to win either an Endless Pool Swim Spa or tickets and hotel accommodations for two to Hawaii. That’s a prize valued at almost $30,000, certainly a fun incentive to participate. A $25 donation gives you one ticket in the drawing, and $50, two, but please donate as you like.
The Sweepstakes runs through October. The goal: raise $100,000. So far Endless Pools and Swim Across America are off to a great start with $14,250, but they need your participation to reach their goal. Help them get there today!
HERE’S A LOOK AT AN ENDLESS POOLS SWIM SPA:
i will be participating in my first swim across america this summer (david – in chicago!) and i couldn’t be happier or more proud. i’m already advertising my swim big time, but i will also start spreading the word about this partnership and sweepstakes, too!
Thanks, David, for posting the link!
I encourage everyone to seek out a Swim Across America event. It’s an incredible experience, in which you can honor those you know who are/have fought cancer, and make a real difference by funding cancer research.
I’m the chair of the Chicago SAA swim, which is August 4th. Check us out at http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/TR/OpenWater/Chicago?fr_id=1504&pg=entry
You can swim the event in the morning and walk to Loalapalooza for an afternoon of music.