An ambitious young triathlete, 12-year old Winter Vinecki has been making waves in the sport of triathlon. Racing since the age of five, her competitive spirit has compelled her to be the best. By the age of nine, she found herself competing in an Olympic Distance triathlon; a distance usually reserved for seasoned adult triathletes.  Winter initially had thoughts of racing as a means of bringing light to the growing epidemic of childhood obesity. This all changed one spring morning in 2008. Winter found her true cause in which to race for, founding Team Winter in honor her dad.

In May 2008, Winter experienced personal hardship that would prove to be the defining moment in her life and career as an athlete. After a series of medical tests, her dad Michael was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of prostate cancer. The grim prognosis was met not only with sadness but with determination. Winter vowed to do everything in her power to put an end to prostate cancer and help find a cure so that other families wouldn't have to endure the personal hardships that hers were going through. Thus, Team Winter became a vessel for funding prostate cancer research and raising prostate cancer awareness on a global scale.

After the passing of her dad in 2009, Winter's determination has only grown. While maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA in school, she travels almost every weekend to races in which she, her three brothers and her mom, Dr. Dawn Estelle, spread the word about Team Winter and prostate cancer awareness. She runs a Team Winter booth at various expos and undertakes speaking venues at schools, all the while racing each race with unrivaled passion. Each first place trophy she receives is sent to a person affected by prostate cancer as a means of support and a gesture of goodwill. While most kids cherish their trophies, she cherishes the people she gives them to.

Today, the growth of Winter as a triathlete and Team Winter as 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization is exponential. At 12-years-old, she is sponsored by Newton Running, holds the prestigious position as Ambassador for the IronKids youth triathlon series, and is coached by some industry greats such as Bob Williams (Former Elite Runner and famous running coach) and Simon Lessing (Legendary Triathlete and renown triathlon coach). Many of today's professional triathletes and retired legends call her a friend, and she garners copious amounts of attention wherever she goes.

But for Winter, it's not about the attention. It's about bringing vindication to her dad, who was given a death sentence in the form of prostate cancer; a disease in which one in six men will be afflicted with. She strives every day, sacrificing playtime and other luxuries kids her age take for granted to ensure that she is doing all she can to bring an end to this tragic and all-too-common disease. Some may find it hard to fathom that a 12-year-old is capable of all of what she has accomplished, but for her, it's only the beginning.