Mark Spitz coming to Teal Lake Swim for Diabetes
Olympian to attend fundraiser swimArticle Photos
ISHPEMING Olympic swimming gold-medalist Mark Spitz will appear at the annual Teal Lake Swim for Diabetes in July.
Bell Hospital announced today that Spitz will visit Ishpeming to highlight the sixth annual Teal Lake Swim for Diabetes, a fundraiser sponsored by Bell Medical and the U.P. Diabetes Outreach Network. This year's event is slated for Saturday, July 25.
"For our sixth year we are expanding the Teal Lake Swim categories and, hopefully, participation," explained Bell physician Dr. Michael Grossman, lead organizer of the event. "Bringing a swimming icon like Mark Spitz to the Teal Lake Swim is really incredible and will hopefully help us attract more swimmers."
Grossman said Spitz will attend a dinner in Ishpeming July 24, then appear at the Saturday race, with a brief motivational speech planned after the race concludes.
Spitz said, "I'm pleased to be coming to Upper Michigan for a race that benefits the worthy cause of dealing with childhood diabetes. It's great to see swimmers getting behind such an event."
Spitz is considered among the Greatest Olympic athletes of all-time. He holds 11 Olympic medals from the 1960s and '70s, including seven gold medals. During his swimming career he set 26 world records and 35 U.S. records.
The 2.5-mile Teal Lake swim calls for participants to raise or donate $75 each to benefit childhood diabetes causes in the region. This year's event proceeds will be earmarked for a week-long diabetes camp at Little Lake's Page Center in Gwinn, and other diabetes related programs.
Registration information for the Teal Lake Swim for Diabetes can be found on the Web at bellhospital.org or updon@diabetesinmichigan, Questions can also be directed to Bell Hospital at 485-2611.
