To the Journal editor:

Close to 100 swimmers and numerous kayakers participated in the 14th annual Swim Teal Lake: Benefit for Diabetes on Saturday, July 29. It was a perfect day for the 2.25-mile swim across Teal Lake and our newest event, the “Short-n-Sweet” 1/4-mile race. Dr. Michael Grossman, an avid swimmer, created the event to help support the U.P. Diabetes Outreach Network.

UPDON’s goal is to strengthen diabetes prevention, detection, treatment and support across the Upper Peninsula. This year over $10,000 was raised by the swimmers and that amount was matched by a generous grant from the Western Marquette County Health Foundation. The money raised from the event will help UPDON, a program partner with UPCAP, continue serving the U.P. through their nationally recognized program.

The success of the swim, and swim clinic the previous day, could not have been realized without the support of Dr. Michael Grossman; Cary Gottlieb (Superior Timing); and Rich Rossway (emcee).

We would also like to offer our appreciation to all of the swimmers, volunteers, Jon Kangas and the City of Ishpeming Public Works Department, Marquette County Sheriff’s Department, and sponsors — Dr. Michael & Helen Grossman, Superior Timing, Western Marquette County Health Foundation, Coccia & Holmstrom family, Active PT, Upper Peninsula Health Plan, Pride Printing, Yooper Shirts, UPCAP, Range Bank, UPPCO, Dexcom, Advantedge Sports Training, FINIS, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, MSHS Athletics, Down Wind Sports, NMU Swimming & Diving, Elbow Grease Massage Therapy, The Mining Journal, Melissa Nelson, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan, Lilly Diabetes, and Dr. Mark Cowan.

We would also like to thank Jilbert’s Diary in Marquette, Kara Applekamp (State Farm Insurance in Marquette), Border Grill, and Tadych’s Econo Foods in Marquette for donating food and supplies for our participants.

We also want to thank our special guest speaker, three-time Olympic swimmer Gary Hall Jr., for coming to our event. He made the swim a memorable experience for everyone involved with his gracious and down-to-earth personality and we were delighted to have him.

We hope everyone enjoyed the event and will join us for our 15th Annual Swim Teal Lake: Benefit for Diabetes Saturday, July 28, 2018.

KRISTEN CAMBENSY

Race Director