Janus, Ironman triathletes go the distance for charities

BOSTON — Janus Capital Group Inc. last week said 234 Ironman triathletes raised a total of $6.5 million for non-profit groups by participating in the 2006 Janus Charity Challenge.
The Challenge, established by the mutual fund company in 2001, encourages triathletes to raise money for Section 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations of their choice, said Casey Cortese, Janus’ director of corporate sponsorships.
Janus’ program provides the athletes with an online fund-raising system, tips to attract donations and publicity. Ironman events consist of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run, Ms. Cortese said.
That works out to 140.6 miles that must be completed within 17 hours for participants to be considered an official Ironman. The passion Ironman athletes bring to their sport is “incredible,” Ms. Cortese said.
“Janus has been able to act as a catalyst to take that passion and turn it into a way for them to give back to their own communities so that their race lives on long after they cross the finish line,” she said.
Denver-based Janus makes additional donations to the non-profit organizations chosen by the top fund-raiser at each of seven Ironman races it sponsors, Ms. Cortese said. Those additional donations have totaled $215,000 on average each year since the program began.
Since inception, the program has raised a total of about $18 million for charity, Ms. Cortese said.