Steigerwald Finishes Triathlon & Wins Janus
Charity Challenge
- If He Can Harvest Pledges
on Time
by Judy Silberstein
 (November 13, 2003) This weekend, John Steigerwald not only
completed the Florida Ironman Triathlon at Panama City
Beach, but
also
came in
first in the Janus Charity Challenge by gathering $27,000
in pledges for his chosen charity - the Flint Park Playground
project. He swam 2.4 miles (in a gulf full of jellyfish),
biked 112 miles (matching his personal best time) and ran
a 26.2-mile marathon in 13 hours and 45 minutes.
Now comes the hard part: Steigerwald has only 2 ½ more
weeks to turn those pledges into hard, cold cash (checks
or credit charges) if he is to earn the $10,000 Janus bonus
prize.
The money is pledged to support a renovation of the playground
still in the planning stages for Flint Park. At the November
3 Larchmont Village Board meeting, Brigid Brennan and Chris
Verni from the Playground Committee presented proposals for
separate but neighboring play spaces for toddlers and big
kids. (See: Flint
Park Playground Group Unveils Final Recommendations).
Their estimated budget is $150,000, and the group hopes to
raise much of those dollars from the community. Steigerwald
has jump-started the fundraising with his triathlon pledges,
and the Janus bonus prize would be an additional boost.
The Ironman event represented a major accomplishment for
the Morgan Stanley stockbroker and Larchmont family man. “It
was slower than I wanted, but was still one of the best times
I’ve ever had,” said Steigerwald who had been
aiming for under 12.5 hours. “What was great was having
my children Brianna and Karina run across the finish line
with me. My wife Linda met me at the line.”
Winning the Janus Charity Challenge may prove to be an even
larger accomplishment - but that race has yet to be won.
Steigerwald won’t have earned the $10,000 first place
bonus for the playground unless he is able to bring in the
$27,000 before midnight on November 26.
Much of the money has come in, and Steigerwald has heard
from numerous neighbors and friends who intend to contribute
to
the playground
but
who
have not
yet made it to their checkbooks. “We’re urging
everyone to send their money in for the benefit of the community
and the children - ASAP,” said Steigerwald.
Conservancy President Catherine Kortlandt was delighted
with Steigerwald’s successful finish of the Ironman
Florida race. “We are grateful for his help and in
awe of his athletic prowess,” she said.
“We’re also delighted to have the chance to
earn the Janus $10,000 prize. Everyone’s prompt financial
support is essential,” she added.
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