What's New with Swim 4 vets
So, while I (Diana Moissonnier - Founder of Swim 4 Vets) have been training and doing the typical caring for my family and working, I have nailed down my next swimming challenge and have selected my veterans charity. I am currently saving money to pay the registration fee for New York’s 8 Bridges Hudson Swim. All of the swims that we will be participating in are pricey and that is the main reason our events are scheduled several years apart. All of the expenses come directly out of my own pocket as well as the swimmers who join me. Any money that you donate goes directly to the charity.
So what does the 8 Bridges swim entail? 8 Bridges is a five-day event. Participants cover the entire Hudson River by swimming the 8 Bridges that cross it. The Rip Van Winkle Bridge serves as the starting point and swimmers finish at the Kingston Rhinecliff Bridge. That is only day one. The very next day swimmers start off at Rhinecliff and then make their way to the next bridge. This process repeats until the finish. Unlike Catalina, this is an actual race and there are solo swimmers along with relay teams. Relay teams can only consist of 2 people due to the support boat only being limited in size. Every team and solo swimmer has a kayaker who is familiar with the waterways and can direct the swimmer away from any hazards. Keep in mind that the Hudson is a very busy waterway. Due to pricing, $1550/stage for relay teams, we will only be swimming two of the stages. Water temp usually ranges from the low 60's to the low 70's but it will vary from year to year. As you can see there is a great deal of training and planning that goes into a swim like this as well as a steep price tag.
As for the charity that Swim 4 Vets has decided to raises donations for, I decided to select one that may or may not be known to you but should have a very familiar name--the Gary Sinise Foundation. Their R.I.S.E. program, (Restore Independence Support Enpowerment) provides specially adapted smart homes to America's most severely wounded heroes & their families as well as home modifications, mobility devices, and adapted vehicles to injured, wounded, ill, and/or aging heroes from all military conflicts and first responders. I love this! Too many of our severely wounded servicemen and women come home to new life challenges and cannot afford to have modifications made to their home or vehicles or are unable to purchase special mobility devices, such as a wheelchair. R.I.S.E. helps give our wounded heroes their freedom and independence back.
My fundraising goal is $3,000. Since the swim isn't until June of 2019, Swim 4 Vets will have a donation link up starting on January 1, 2019. That, of course, doesn't mean you have to wait until then to donate to the Gary Sinise Foundation. Please click here and view all of the wonderful things that this foundation has accomplished and will continue to accomplish. It is my hope that you will consider donating more than once--both now and when we start our fundraising.
So PLEASE go check out the Gary Sinise Foundation and make a donation.
So what does the 8 Bridges swim entail? 8 Bridges is a five-day event. Participants cover the entire Hudson River by swimming the 8 Bridges that cross it. The Rip Van Winkle Bridge serves as the starting point and swimmers finish at the Kingston Rhinecliff Bridge. That is only day one. The very next day swimmers start off at Rhinecliff and then make their way to the next bridge. This process repeats until the finish. Unlike Catalina, this is an actual race and there are solo swimmers along with relay teams. Relay teams can only consist of 2 people due to the support boat only being limited in size. Every team and solo swimmer has a kayaker who is familiar with the waterways and can direct the swimmer away from any hazards. Keep in mind that the Hudson is a very busy waterway. Due to pricing, $1550/stage for relay teams, we will only be swimming two of the stages. Water temp usually ranges from the low 60's to the low 70's but it will vary from year to year. As you can see there is a great deal of training and planning that goes into a swim like this as well as a steep price tag.
As for the charity that Swim 4 Vets has decided to raises donations for, I decided to select one that may or may not be known to you but should have a very familiar name--the Gary Sinise Foundation. Their R.I.S.E. program, (Restore Independence Support Enpowerment) provides specially adapted smart homes to America's most severely wounded heroes & their families as well as home modifications, mobility devices, and adapted vehicles to injured, wounded, ill, and/or aging heroes from all military conflicts and first responders. I love this! Too many of our severely wounded servicemen and women come home to new life challenges and cannot afford to have modifications made to their home or vehicles or are unable to purchase special mobility devices, such as a wheelchair. R.I.S.E. helps give our wounded heroes their freedom and independence back.
My fundraising goal is $3,000. Since the swim isn't until June of 2019, Swim 4 Vets will have a donation link up starting on January 1, 2019. That, of course, doesn't mean you have to wait until then to donate to the Gary Sinise Foundation. Please click here and view all of the wonderful things that this foundation has accomplished and will continue to accomplish. It is my hope that you will consider donating more than once--both now and when we start our fundraising.
So PLEASE go check out the Gary Sinise Foundation and make a donation.
Photo Credit: Paula Selby - Catalina Channel Crossing
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Diana Moissonnier - Swim 4 Vets Founder is interviewed by local morning show AZ Daily Mix.
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