Saturday, May 12 – Cornelius, N.C.
The 4th Annual Jetton Park Triathlon makes a splash passing the $100,000 mark for charities
On Saturday, May 12, hundreds of athletes, volunteers and spectators will gather at Jetton Park in Cornelius for the 4th Annual Jetton Park Triathlon, a multisport race consisting of a 750-yard swim followed by a 20k bike and a 5k run. The race benefits The Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte and The Hope House Foundation in Huntersville.
Race director Sheila Wakeman says the Jetton Park Triathlon is a fantastic event for athletes of all abilities and skill levels. “My husband and I created this event because we are both athletes and know how valuable health and fitness is for a community and we wanted to be able to give back to local charities. This triathlon offers a unique combination of sports and distances that can be achieved by both novices and seasoned athletes alike. Since the inaugural event in 2009, we have welcomed first-time participants as well as triathlon veterans to the sport and athletes have great things to say about this early season event.”
“This race builds community spirit and promotes togetherness,” adds race director Jeff Wakeman. “As the event reaches its fourth year, I have both been especially proud of how the people in the area have united together for the greater good of the community and to support the local charities.” This year Wakeman Charities Inc. is introducing a corporate team challenge to the event. This will allow event sponsors to challenge their employees to earn points by volunteering and participating in the event. After the event is complete a Community Award will be given to the company that has earned the most points. This promotes health and fitness and community giving on a new level. “We are so fortunate to have so many wonderful sponsors in our community who want to give back and be involved directly in their community,” says Sheila.
“I have raced in dozens of events all over the country and the Jetton Triathlon has the best of everything all rolled into one,” says the 2010 female winner, Melissa Bell of Charlotte, N.C. (InsideOut Sports). “I love the beauty of the course, I love racing with all the novices and the support of the volunteers and fans is second to none. We are lucky to have a race like this here in our back yard.”
The race will take place in Jetton Park, a Mecklenburg County park set on the shores of Lake Norman and bordered by The Peninsula Club. Athletes will swim in a protected cove of Lake Norman. The bike segment (parts of which are newly paved) will carry athletes along the rolling hills of Jetton Road, and the run will showcase the beauty of the surroundings along roads and trails within the park. “This is one of the most beautiful venues you will find for a sporting event in North Carolina,” says Jeff.
The 2012 Jetton Park Triathlon’s Showcase Sponsors include ACN, Brennan Law Firm, PLLC, Carolina Sports Clinic, Cornerstone Financial Partners, Endurobrand, InsideOut Sports, Newell Rubbermaid, North Mecklenburg Animal Hospital, Scott P. Guice, DDS, and State Farm Aprille Shaffer Insurance Agency. More than 30 additional sponsors at all levels from the community give the Jetton Park Triathlon the feel of a larger Ironman-style event. “The generous donations by these sponsors give us a chance to surpass the money raised last year from the event and allow us to support our charities even more,” explains Sheila. “We will have food, prizes, entertainment, special guests, including WBTV’s Paul Cameron, and a silent auction to make it enjoyable for those who don’t race, too.”
Proceeds from the race will be directed to The Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte, serving families whose children are receiving medical treatment at Levine and Hemby children’s hospitals, and The Hope House Foundation in Huntersville, N.C., serving homeless women and children. In this, the fourth year since its inaugural event, Wakeman Charities Inc. will pass the $100,000 mark of giving.
