When state funding was no longer an option for the Upper Peninsula Diabetes Outreach Network (UPDON), volunteers needed a way to continue raising funds and increasing awareness. In search of an impactful fundraising source, the idea was proposed for an outdoor activity that was different from the common running race. With this seed planted, Swim Teal Lake was born, and on July 30, 2022, the event will celebrate its 19th year.
Swim Team Lake is the primary fundraiser for UPDON, a program to strengthen diabetes care and support across the Upper Peninsula through a variety of projects and partnerships. The Swim has been a substantial part of UPDON Program Director Kristen Cambensy’s life since the start of the event. As a former college-level competitive swimmer, she coached the sport for the Ishpeming-Negaunee co-op team for thirteen years and the Marquette Senior High School team for one year. When she was coaching in Ishpeming-Negaunee, UPDON was looking to get more school teams involved in the Swim. Cambensy’s oldest son, Mark, was diagnosed at three-and-a-half years old with type one diabetes. When she heard about the event, she knew it would be a great opportunity to be involved in. She recruited 15-20 kids from her team to participate and swam along with them.
Later, she planned and executed the event as UPDON’s office manager before becoming further involved in the organization.
“Swimming is a lot of fun. Anyone can learn how to swim, it's one of those life-long skills that you can do when you’re 8 or 80, it's good exercise and it's fun to do in a pool or in the lake,” Cambensy said.
The idea for Swim Teal Lake came from Dr. Michael Grossman, a family medicine doctor who recently retired from family medicine at U.P. Health System-Bell. Dr. Grossman was involved with UPDON because his son was diagnosed with type one diabetes at a young age. He was also an open water swimmer who lived right by Teal Lake. When it came to finding a unique fundraising opportunity that could happen outside, the idea for a swim seemed like a natural suggestion.
The 2.25 miles swim across Teal Lake attracts people of all different fitness levels. There are three events; Beginner, Competitive, and “Short-n-Sweet” swim. According to the website, hundreds of swimmers have ventured across the lake in this challenge, assisted by an equal number of volunteer kayakers who have helped to guide them. Past guest speakers at the event have included: Olympians Peter Vanderkaay (2005 and 2013), Mark Spitz (2009) Janet Evans (2010), Coralie Simmons (2011), and Gary Hall Jr. (2017), and physician and diabetes advocate Dr. Natalie Strand (2014).
“You don’t have to be a high school or college athlete in the best shape of their lives to complete Swim Teal Lake. We've had people of all abilities and ages complete the Swim,” Cambensy said.
As a swimmer and the mother of a child with type one diabetes, this event is near and dear to her heart.
“There are a lot of misconceptions for the general public when it comes to diabetes, as well as a lack of professional guidance for rural U.P. residents who are living with either type of diabetes,” she said. “In the U.P., there is a lack of pediatric endocrinologists. So, it makes learning about exactly what to do when you have a child with type-one diabetes very difficult.”
Upper Peninsula residents typically have to wait for endocrinologists from downstate to come up, which is not a sustainable way to live with diabetes. Accessibility and education are two issues UPDON is aiming to improve by bringing awareness to U.P. communities.
UPDON is a program of the Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress (UPCAP) and has been forming partnerships for diabetes detection, prevention and care since 1986. It is the only diabetes-related information center in the U.P., and Swim Teal Lake is their only fundraiser. There are a limited number of scholarships available to cover the cost of registration to participate in the Swim. If you are interested in a scholarship, please contact Cambensy at cambensyk@upcap.org. To participate, volunteer, or support the 19th Annual Swim Teal Lake: Benefit for Diabetes held on July 30, 2022, visit swimteallake.org/registration.
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The Northern Michigan University Center for Rural Health seeks to improve the health and well-being of Upper Peninsula residents and communities by developing collaborative partnerships that enhance the access and availability of affordable, quality healthcare services. For questions or comments related to this story, contact ruralhealth@nmu.edu.