July 01, 2016
What do you get when you combine a father and son with a love of swimming, one former Olympian and a shared dedication to fueling Parkinson's disease (PD) research? A Team Fox team that's making waves. Meet Alon Mandel, Michael Dolan and Michael's son Aj Dolan. Together, their "Team Fox Swim Team" is taking on outdoor races to support MJFF's high-impact programs. Read on to learn more about their inspiration, tips for fellow swimmers and how you can support their efforts.
Alon and Michael met through a work-related project. At the time Alon” a four-time All American and member of the 2008 Israeli Olympic swim team ” was embarking on a swim across the Straits of Gibraltar. Michael shared that he and son Aj often did open water swims together. "We had to concentrate to talk about the work project and not swimming all the time," Michael remembers.
They also connected over a desire to turn their passion into a greater cause. Michael's father (Aj's grandfather) lived with PD before passing away in 2015. As a man who ran 25 marathons in his life, it felt right that they would honor him through taking on athletic challenges to fundraise for a cure. Michael had run the 2015 Chicago Marathon with Team Fox and wanted to do more. When the idea of a swim team came up, Alon and Aj were quick to sign on. "The opportunity to represent something bigger than yourself is often forgotten," says Alon. The team's first challenges include the two-mile Dwight Crum Pier to Pier Open Water Swim in August and for Alon, the 22-mile Catalina Channel Crossing in September.
While the team is motivated by their love of the water and dedication to speeding a cure, they also rely on a few pre-and post-race rituals. In addition to training, they prepare by having a fulfilling breakfast to carry them through hours in the water and picking the right pre-race playlist (Dr. Dre is a favorite of Aj's). And when Alon dives in, he thinks about his wife cheering for him at the end, while Aj and Michael picture their post-swim celebration at their favorite breakfast burrito joint.
Looking ahead, Alon, Michael and Aj look forward to taking on other races, including Alon's quest to complete the Ocean Seven (a series of endurance swims considered the equivalent of the Seven Summits mountain-climbing challenges) and rallying friends and family with their fundraising. They also hope to sign up more swimmers to their team.
Throughout their training, the team has felt embraced and supported by Team Fox staff and fellow members. "When we decided to pick a charity, MJFF and Team Fox was the natural choice," says Michael. "We're serious about the work that is being done to find a cure and helping patients live fulfilling and whole lives while living with Parkinson's."
Ready to make a splash as a Team Fox member? Join Team Fox for one of your upcoming athletic feats and make the most of your efforts to help speed a cure.
https://www.michaeljfox.org/foundation/news-detail.php?three-team-fox-members-are-swimming-toward-cure
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