"Living is Winning," The Inspiring True Story of an Ironman Triathlete, Top Trainer, and Cancer Survivor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Metuchen, New Jersey, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) May 18, 2011 -- For over two years, this documentary sports film follows Andrew Johnston as he conducts triathlon training, competes around the country, and struggles to overcome continued obstacles. Touching, funny, and revealing interviews with Drew's cycling and triathlete friends, his training buddies and clients, and his family and friends, give viewers more than the usual glimpse into the world of an elite athlete.

Living is Winning officially begins in Lake Placid, New York, at the start of the 2007 Ironman Triathlon. In 2004, Andrew was forced to withdraw from this race for what he thought was a recurring leg injury, but the injury was a symptom that led to his diagnosis of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML). After a two-year struggle, a daily dose of oral chemo, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle and positive attitude, Andrew’s disease went into remission, and the cancer survivor began more rigorous triathlon training. Within months, Andrew was competing and winning at elite athlete level again, while still ingesting his daily chemo pill to stay alive.

Drew's return to Lake Placid is filled with emotional trauma, and the filmmakers record this struggle as the film's backbone. Scattered throughout the 2.4 mile swim, the 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run, are pieces of Drew's intimate life story, from his childhood to meeting his high school sweetheart, from the end of his pro-cycling career to his early struggles with triathlon, from his CML diagnosis to his successful comeback culminating at the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and finally, his personal evolution from competition obsessed elite athlete to life obsessed human being, where Living is Winning.

The film received the Feature Audience Award at Atlanta Film Festival, Best Adventure Sports Film at the Connecticut Film Festival, and scored 4.5 out of 5 at Big Bear Lake International Film Festival. USA Triathlon says, "Consider this a must-have for any triathlete looking for some insightful perspectives." Triathlete Magazine writes, "There are plenty of stories about athletes beating the odds to finish an Ironman, but few are as inspiring as Andrew Johnston's story, and never before has one been documented so well."

Passion River specializes in film marketing and DVD distribution for unique documentaries, foreign movies, independent films and special interest titles to retail stores and libraries nationwide. Their non-exclusive film distribution business model allows producers to self-distribute their films as a way to reach major retailers and a wide audience. They also book films and talent for public performances and speaking events on college campuses across the country. For more information about their new films and events, as well as their film distribution seminars and movie marketing workshops, visit: www.passionriver.com.

Contact:

Mat Levy
Passion River Films
(732)321-0711 ext. 135
Mat(at)passionriver(dot)com

416 Main Street 2nd Floor
Metuchen, NJ 08840
www.passionriver.com

Cancer Survivor     elite athlete     film distribution     film marketing     Ironman     triathlon