Annika's Blog - Athletes for Hope

Growing up in a small town in Sweden I played all kinds of sports. I loved the competition, camaraderie, and travel that came with playing those sports. As I grew older and more focused on golf, I met so many people around the world and learned many life lessons.

I was very fortunate to have great parents, coaches, and mentors. However, it always seemed to be my heroes in sports who inspired me. It wasn’t just because they were winning tournaments, breaking records or making lots of money. It was because I felt emotionally tied to them and their actions outside of the arena. They were cool, they were humble, they influenced others, and they gave back. These athletes helped in the community, which showed us that a difference can be made with a strong will, had work, and a big heart. They inspired me to one day follow their footsteps.

Therefore, I always knew that I would give back once I was successful in my sport. My dream to start a Foundation came to fruition in 2007. The ANNIKA Foundation was created to help kids live a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition, and to help aspiring junior golfers reach their potential. Childhood obesity is an epidemic in our country, and if we don’t act immediately, this generation of children could be the first to not outlive the prior generation. Think about that…..it is disgusting!

These initiatives are part of my life and my story. They come from my heart and do not feel like an “obligation” to me, but rather a passion. I will do all that I can to help others live their dreams, because that is exactly what my heroes did for me. My journey would not be complete if I didn’t close the loop and help the next generation on and off the playing field.

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