To the Journal editor:

Close to 90 swimmers and kayakers participated in the 11th Annual Swim Teal Lake: Benefit for Diabetes. Early morning thunderstorms had scared a few off but the clouds opened up and it ended up being the perfect day for the 2.25 mile swim across Teal Lake.

Participants and spectators were greeted by the Special Guest, Dr. Natalie Strand (Season 17 winner of the “Amazing Race” TV show and a type 1 diabetic). The swim is the brain-child of Dr. Michael Grossman, an avid swimmer, who 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 (Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress), continue with their nationally recognized program.

The success of the swim could not have been realized without the support of Dr. Michael Grossman; Cary Gottlieb (Superior Timing); and Rich Rossway (MC of the event).

We would also like to offer our appreciation to all of the swimmers, volunteers, John Kangas and his amazing workers from the City of Ishpeming Public Works Department, and sponsors (Dr. Michael Grossman, Superior Timing, Coccia & Holmstrom family, Active PT, Upper Peninsula Health Plan (UPHP), Road ID, FINIS Inc., XTERRA Wetsuits, Pride Printing, Globe Printing, Screened Image, Tadych’s Econo Foods, UPCAP, Anytime Fitness, AstraZeneca, Ishpeming Rotary, Northern Michigan Bank, Synergy Fitness, Swanson Lundquist Funeral Home, Thrifty and Dollar Car Rentals, Melissa Nelson, and Dr. Mark Cowan).

We would also like to thank Del and Loraine Turner, Midtown Bakery in Negaunee, Pizza Hut, Little Caesar’s Pizza, Burger King, Holiday Gas Station, and Buck’s Restaurant in Ishpeming for donating food and supplies for our participants. Another big thank you goes out to Getz’s, Border Grill, Casa Calabria, Tino’s Bar, Congress Pizza, Marquette YMCA, Marquette Golf Club, Marquette KFC, McDonald’s of Marquette, Zip-it Sauces, Country Inn & Suites of Houghton, Joey’s Seafood, U.P. Children’s Museum, Marquette Maritime Museum, Kewadin Casinos, Star Line and Shepler’s Ferries for donating prizes for our raffle and Pride Printing for our raffle tickets.

Thank you for making the 11th Annual Swim Teal Lake: Benefit for Diabetes a success.

Ann Constance, director

Upper Peninsula Diabetes

Outreach Network