Jim Stevens competed in his first Wisconsin Ironman triathlon in 2007 as a personal challenge. The hardest part was the first part, swimming. After he finished swimming 2.4 miles across Lake Monona, he found biking 112 miles and then running 26.2 miles much easier.
"When I came out of the water I almost dead last," he said. "I got on the bike and proceeded to pass about 700 people. On the run I passed another 700 or so." He still had 700-800 ahead of him at the finish line, but ended tenth in his 55-59 age group.
After establishing the fact that he could complete the grueling contest, he didn’t think he wanted to do it again. "That was going to be my last one," he said. But the award ceremony at Monona Terrace the next evening changed his mind, when he found out about the Janus Charity Challenge and an opportunity to make a prolife statement through his running.
Running for a New Purpose
Janus is a financial investment company that works with a handful of participants in each Ironman who have decided to run for a broader purpose, to help raise money for non-profit organizations. There are about 45 of the 2500 entrants in the Wisconsin Ironman, which takes place on Sept. 13th, who are participating in the Janus Charity Challenge this year.
After watching the Janus Challenge participants all be recognized, and additional checks ranging from $10,000 to $2,000 awarded to the top five fund-raisers, the wheels in his brain started turning. "I thought maybe I could do another one for a charity," he said. "Right away the Lord put in my mind, why don’t you do one for Care Net."
Jim has been actively pro-life for decades. His wife Cathy was one of the original board members of CareNet Pregnancy Center of Dane County, when it started out as the Pregnancy Information Center in 1985. Several months after the Ironman he was back at Monona Terrace for the annual CareNet banquet and felt his decision to re-do the Ironman for CareNet confirmed. He said, "I felt truly touched by the hand of God at that moment."
"It’s something we would never have thought of," said Care Net director Liz Osborne. "But one someone comes up to you with tears in his eyes and says God spoke to him, we pay attention to that. In fact that’s what we pray for, that God will speak and people will respond at our annual banquet."
Running is Second Nature
The Ironman training regimen is almost like a part-time job. But it’s not a difficult job for Stevens. "I love training anyway," he said. "It’s kind of a hobby, I just love exercising." Stevens taught Physical Education and coached in the Madison School District for 35 years, before retiring last year. He lives in rural Dane County, outside of Cottage Grove.
He said his training program this time around is a little different than two years ago, with a few more nagging injuries. "I’m a little uncertain about my training," he said. "So God has got me where he wants me, I have to rely on him more than my own abilities."
On June 20th, with less than three months to go, he competed in the High Cliff half-triathlon and was pleased with the result. "Based on my High Cliff performance, I’m right on track," he said.
Fundraising is Having an Impact
His fundraising is not quite on pace to reach his $50,000 goal, but he acknowledges that may have been too ambitious. He has had more than 40 donors through his website, raising about $2,000. He believes that puts him in 8th place among the Janus Challenge participants.
However, additional donations are being made directly to Care Net, boosting his total. "The neat thing is that people who are already giving to Care Net don’t have to give more to be a part of the challenge," he said. "They just have to put on the memo line of their check, until Sept. 12th, that it’s for the Jim Stevens Ironman challenge or the Janus Charity Challenge."
Liz Osborne said new donors have connected with Care Net through this challenge. "He’s doing a great publicity campaign for Care Net," she said. "It’s such a simple way to support Care Net it’s a hard concept for some people to understand. But all of the money donated goes to Care Net, none goes to Janus or to Jim Stevens."
Care Net is Making a Difference in Women’s Lives, and Men too
Liz is excited about everything that’s happening at Care Net right now. Elizabeth House, Care Net’s residential program for pregnant women, is at capacity with six women, plus three baby boys and three more babies due to arrive soon.
She also noted that Care Net has begun key word advertising through Google. From that effort there’s been a 30-percent increase in women coming for intervention services and a 150-percent increase in women coming for sexually transmitted infection testing.
"The infection testing is a great opportunity for intervention," she said. "We can counsel them about whether or not they want to continue with that kind of lifestyle."
She added that Care Net is continuing an outreach program in area schools. It also offers, in fact invites, male partners to come for counseling. "The men are just so surprised that there’s someone here for them," she said. "There’s a lot going on at Care Net."
Jim Stevens is excited about this opportunity to link two of his passions, physical exercise and the campaign against abortion. "I think abortion is a terrible thing, God can’t be happy with it," he said. "I’m glad to help a group that’s on the front lines, helping men and women choose life. I’m glad to come alongside Care Net and do what I can."
UPDATE: Funds donated to CareNet through the Janus Iron Man Challenge as of 8/12/09 total $56,930.36.
The Smiling Unborn Child – Breakpoint Commentary by Chuck Colson