Dear Friends,

This past summer was life changing for me as I spent 2 weeks in Malawi, Africa serving with Children of the Nations (COTN), a nonprofit organization that aims to raise orphaned and destitute children into healthy, educated adults. In Africa, an estimated 12 million children are orphaned because of war, famine and the HIV\AIDS crisis. COTN is building children’s homes, medical centers, schools, and Villages of Hope to care for these children PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, SOCIALLY & SPIRITUALLY.

On June 22, 2008 I will undertake the challenge of competing in my first Ironman Triathlon: Ironman Coeur d’Alene. For those of you not familiar with the Ironman Triathlon, it has long been considered the world’s most grueling, physically demanding one-day endurance event. The race consists of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run and must be completed in 17 hours.

God has laid it on my heart to dedicate this personal challenge to COTN. As I train for Ironman Coeur d’Alene I have partnered with the Janus Charity Challenge and I hope to raise at least $25,000 for COTN. Every year COTN feeds thousands of children besides those in their programs and every year there are more people than there is food.

COTN is changing the lives of children one by one, and you can be a part of it too! Now I know what you are thinking: “I would love to help out, but I can’t do an Ironman next year!!” Well, the good news is, you don’t have to! What I am asking from you is a sponsorship/donation to this great cause. I hope you will consider making a contribution today. All donations are tax deductible. Last year alone 49 athletes participating in the Janus Charity Challenge at Ironman Coeur d’Alene raised over 1.3 million for designated nonprofits and Janus made an additional $50,000 contribution to the beneficiaries of the top fundraisers.

Please take a moment to watch the videos to the right to learn more about COTN’s mission in Africa, the Janus Charity Challenge and an Ironman Triathlon. For more information about COTN visit www.cotni.org. For more information about Janus Charity Challenge visit www.januscharitychallenge.com.

Thanks for helping me support a great cause! I hope you will be my advocate and Ironman ambassador about Children of the Nations (COTN). Help spread this request. Ask your workmates to sponsor me, maybe the business you own or work for, your business contacts….in fact, anyone you feel may be inspired to help. Send them a link to this website. Please be sure to visit the site frequently as I will post frequently about my training and support endeavors on the blog.

Thank you for your generous support!

Brian Owen
Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

P.S. You can track my progress through the course live on race day at www.ironman.com