1. Just when you think Jack Macken-
roth, Compete Magazine’s 2012
Athlete of the Year couldn’t add
one more accomplishment to
his résumé, he does something else
that continues to show why the judges
selected him. A list of his remarkable
talents and accomplishments include
his athletic ability as a medal-winning
swimmer, a fashion designer, fashion
and fitness model, radio and television
personality, business owner and HIV
activist.
Any of these alone would be
significant. But together they create
the picture of a true champion. What
enables him to be such a positive
role model for so many, however, is
his courage to be open about who he
is—to share with the world the fact
that he is a gay man who is HIV-
positive (HIV+). And he’s committed
his life to taking away the stigma of
an HIV+ diagnosis.
As a novice cyclist he decided
to take part in the recent BRAKING
AIDS® Ride, a three-day 300-mile
ride from Boston to New York to
benefit Housing Works in New York
City. He figured while it might be
challenging, it would certainly be
doable. Without advanced research
he announced he’d raise $50,000
in only seven weeks for the AIDS
advocacy organization that provides
housing, medical, prevention and
support services for those living in
the New York City area.
And based on his past fundrais-
ing experiences, Mackenroth didn’t
foresee a problem, saying “I figured
with my massive social media reach
(over 500,000 followers) I could just
post a few occasional call-outs and
the donations would come rolling in.
Wrong.”
That’s when his innate creativity
kicked in. He leveraged his chiseled
body into a billboard, “selling”
personalized semi-nude selfies for
donations over $250. Tagging the
name, business, website or social
media handle of any major donor, he
posted photos on all his social media
outlets; the larger the donation, the
more provocative the ad placement
became.
He and his 19-person cycling team,
#TheMackPack raised $132,700 and
Mackenroth himself raised $47,555,
setting an individual fundraising
record. While he didn’t meet his
$50,000 personal goal by race day,
Mackenroth shared that the ride
was “life changing in so many ways.
… You create amazing bonds with
people when you conquer seemingly
insurmountable challenges together.”
In a Housing Works update, however,
Mackenroth raised $52,300. He’s
already looking to 2015 to set a new
fundraising record that will draw
media attention to Housing Works and
its important services.
A Fit Body Pays Off … Literally
By Connie Wardman
PhotobyTylerCheeverGnomes
Fitness
40 | COMPETE | November 2014