The ending of the Ironman race season after Ironman Florida also means the wrap-up of the first year of the Janus Charity Challenge. Janus and Ironman athletes competing in Ironman North America events in the United States raised more than $500,000 in 2001 ($504,100), an impressive figure for the first year of the program.

"We are extremely excited about the results we got from the first year of the Janus Charity Challenge," said Casey Corteste, Sponsorship Marketing Manager for Janus Mutual Funds. "It was especially gratifying to see the massive increase in both funds raised and participation from the beginning of the year to the end."

The Janus Charity Challenge is a program where triathletes competing in Ironman North America events in the United States are "challenged" by Janus to use the race to raise money for charity.

The top three fund raisers at each individual event get rewarded by Janus with additional funds being donated by Janus the the charity that the athlete raced for with $5,000 to the first- place fund raiser, $3,000 for second-place and $1,500 for third place.

The program has seen a steady growth as Ironman California in May saw 11 athletes raise $76,758, Ironman USA Lake Placid in July saw 14 athletes raise $119,606, while November's Janus Ironman Florida saw 34 athletes raise $178,736.

"It's a great program," said Ironman North America President Graham Fraser, who participated in the program at Janus Ironman Florida. "We hope to continue to see those numbers grow over the next few years. Part of our goal at Ironman North America is to give back to communities and charities, and the Janus Charity Challenge is a perfect fit with that."

The Janus Charity Challenge program will continue in 2002 at Ironman Utah, Ironman Wisconsin, Ironman USA Lake Placid and Ironman Florida. For more information on the Janus Charity Challenge, or to register as a participant, log onto any Ironman North America web site and click on the Janus Charity Challenge link.