I have been asked by many if my solo swim of Lake George is a fundraiser, like so many athletic events out there. Rather than narrow it down to a single cause, I would like to invite anyone interested in my effort to consider supporting any cause of personal significance. It’s a DIY fundraiser! Don’t send me anything. Feel free to name a cause you support in the comments of my Facebook page- can we get a list of 32 causes? Specific or general. Let this list serve to bring attention to your cause or causes. Just a list— no need to announce a pledge.
There are a few groups & causes which resonate with me as I swim:
Boy, can I relate to needing help getting food! So many families depend on access to a local food pantry to make ends meet. While swimming, people on my support boat will need to toss or hand me water bottles and food products that I can consume on the go. It isn’t easy to ask for help, but I can’t do it alone. Local and regional food pantries are a great resource for millions of people nation wide.
This foundation addressed the lack of treatment available when one family had a child receive a diagnosis of Giant Axonal Neuropathy (GAN). GAN is an orphan disease- it affects so few people that funding research is not profitable. Hannah’s Hope Fund set goals and faced uncertain outcomes, and after years of work (because when you have a sick child, your first thought is to establish a world class research team, network, and bring about clinical trials, right???), Hannah’s family has kept going, and clinical trials started last year. I have thought of Hannah and her family on several of my longer training swims, and it always helps me get through rough patches.
Go Seawolves! Dr. Kuhner was the chair of the English Department at the University of Alaska, Anchorage, and my first advisor when I declared my major. I took many courses from Dr. Kuhner, from Renaissance Drama to the contemporary short fiction of Canadian women authors. Lap after lap, I often run lyrics of songs and poems in my mind, and when I can’t recall verses I once knew, I envy Dr. Kuhner’s effortless recall of what seemed to be the entire literary canon, verbatim. Has an educator or school made a difference to you? Pay it forward. Get involved.
YMCA, The American Red Cross, US Masters Swimming
I learned to swim properly at a YMCA day camp over the span of several summers, working my way from Minnow to Shark. I remember thinking that being a Water Safety Instructor (WSI) would be the coolest thing ever. After almost 30 years, I have taught hundreds of swimmers of all ages and skill levels- as it turns out being a WSI really is the coolest thing ever. My cousin, Erin, has done YMCA swim-a-thons with her team to raise money for swim scholarships, and is now a lifeguard willing to help with my swim! (And likely try it herself one day.)
The Environment
I swim in that water! I want it to be clean. I want to see to the bottom where it is shallow, I want to see the funny fish and turtles swimming around. I like that it tastes good. I love seeing how the landscape of the Adirondacks frame the lake, and how the mists rise off it in the morning. Since the swim will take me about 24 hours, I’m looking forward to the stars at night, away from the light pollutions of cities. I’m also looking forward to a lot more open water swimming in many more bodies of water in the future. Clean water. Healthy water. The cool thing about supporting the environment is that you can pledge to save money, and it helps the cause!
Do you groove on sports? Support a team or player. Want to be more active? Pledge to spend 32 minutes a few times a week doing something- walk, stand instead of sit, dance. You name it!
Here is my list so far:
The Food Pantry
GAN
Education
YMCA/Red Cross
The Environment
And how about:
Your alma mater
A predetermined sum shared among street performers
A visit to a nursing home to say hi
Animal shelters
Libraries
Bonus points for me if what is important to you motivates me to power through the water more.
Thank you!
