Thanks for your interest in joining Team Winter!

Who Can Join?

• Anyone young or old can join Team Winter
• You don’t need to be a runner or a triathlete
• Team Winter is open to anyone in any sport, soccer-wrestling- skiing-baseball—just let us know your sport
• Get your team involved—Football, hockey, swim, golf (Team Winter has special stickers for helmets, custom swim caps—just let us know your idea)
• You don’t even need to be an athlete. You can just fundraise for Team Winter as a passion –whether it is through your school, a local organization or just “you” as an individual
• Fundraise in honor or in memory of a friend or family  member affected by prostate cancer

Benefits of Joining Team Winter

• You will be part of a Nationwide Team- “Team Winter”. This is a great opportunity for kids and adults, who are from smaller towns and communities, that might not have running or triathlon clubs. This is the perfect way for you to feel connected. Whether it be at a marathon, local 5K, Ironman or IronKids event, you will be amongst other teammates and be part of one of the largest up and coming teams and non-profit charities.
• You will be part of a national campaign by Team Winter to raise awareness for prostate cancer
• Your fundraising will earn you limited edition Team Winter race gear
• Internet access to track and document your training and racing as an individual and to see others on Team Winter

Team Winter Goals

• Raise awareness for Prostate Cancer through Team Winter and by getting blue ribbons on products
• Raise money to help fund Prostate Cancer Research
• Promote a healthy and active lifestyle, especially for kids, to help reduce the growing childhood obesity epidemic
• Encourage kids to make a difference and be passionate about a cause.
• Have every dollar raised go directly into the Prostate Cancer Foundation’s research program

What can you earn?

• Kids who raise $250 will be eligible to receive a limited edition Team Winter triathlon, cycling or running top
• Adults who raise $500 will be eligible to receive a limited edition Team Winter triathlon, cycling or running top
• Other Team Winter gear will be awarded for donations beyond this amount

THE TEAM WINTER STORY

An ambitious young triathlete, 13-year old Winter Vinecki has been making waves in the sport of triathlon. Racing since the age of five, her competitive spirit has compelled her to be the best. By the age of nine, she found herself competing in an Olympic Distance triathlon; a distance usually reserved for seasoned adult triathletes.  Winter initially had thoughts of racing as a means of bringing light to the growing epidemic of childhood obesity. This all changed one spring morning in 2008. Winter found her true cause in which to race for, founding Team Winter in honor her dad.

In May 2008, Winter experienced personal hardship that would prove to be the defining moment in her life and career as an athlete. After a series of medical tests, her dad Michael was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of prostate cancer. The grim prognosis was met not only with sadness but with determination. Winter vowed to do everything in her power to put an end to prostate cancer and help find a cure so that other families wouldn't have to endure the personal hardships that hers were going through. Thus, Team Winter became a vessel for funding prostate cancer research and raising prostate cancer awareness on a global scale.

After the passing of her dad in 2009, Winter's determination has only grown. While maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA in school, she travels almost every weekend to races in which she, her three brothers and her mom, Dr. Dawn Estelle, spread the word about Team Winter and prostate cancer awareness. She runs a Team Winter booth at various expos and undertakes speaking venues at schools, all the while racing each race with unrivaled passion. Each first place trophy she receives is sent to a person affected by prostate cancer as a means of support and a gesture of goodwill. While most kids cherish their trophies, she cherishes the people she gives them to.

Today, the growth of Winter as a triathlete and Team Winter as 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization is exponential. At 13-years-old, she is sponsored by Newton Running, holds the prestigious position as Ambassador for the IronKids youth triathlon series, and has been coached by some industry greats such as Bob Williams (Former Elite Runner and famous running coach) and Simon Lessing (Legendary Triathlete and renown triathlon coach). Many of today's professional triathletes and retired legends call her a friend, and she garners copious amounts of attention wherever she goes.

But for Winter, it's not about the attention. It's about bringing vindication to her dad, who was given a death sentence in the form of prostate cancer; a disease in which one in six men will be afflicted with. She strives every day, sacrificing playtime and other luxuries kids her age take for granted to ensure that she is doing all she can to bring an end to this tragic and all-too-common disease. Some may find it hard to fathom that a 13 year-old is capable of all of what she has accomplished, but for her, it's only the beginning.

Starting in 2012, Winter will set out to raise global awareness for prostate cancer. She will be joined by prostate cancer survivor and Newton Running co-founder, Jerry Lee. Together they will tackle marathons around the world. Their first goal is "Pole to Pole" and hitting the equator in between via the continents of Antarctica, Africa and the Arctic Circle. Be a part of this journey either by fundraising for Team Winter or just by following along and sharing her inspirational story with your friends and family. Winter will be making good on a promise that is engraved on the back of her dad's gravestone. "Cancer, I will chase you to the end of this world and stomp you out like you stomped my dad out!"