Chuck Beatty contributed this piece.
Have you ever wanted to try something different and challenging, just to see if you could? As swimmers, we all spend countless hours chasing the black line down the pool. That’s challenging enough for some. A growing number of us leave the pool and take to the open water whenever we can. We love the freedom that lakes and rivers and oceans provide us.
Our adventure began as an idea among a group of Masters swimmers training for open water races last summer. “How cool would it be,” we thought, “to swim across Lake Erie and raise money for a good cause.” Now we are only two weeks away from our 36-mile relay from Point Pelee, Ontario, to Main Street Beach at Vermilion, Ohio. Weather permitting, our swim will take place the weekend of July 22.
The Lake Erie Relay Swim will begin in the early morning darkness from an unfamiliar beach. For the next 18 hours, six members of O*H*I*O Masters will swim about 10K each over the course of the relay. Along the way we will overcome fear of swimming in the dark, ship traffic, fatigue and rapidly-changing weather conditions. All of this for the satisfaction of doing something few have done—and to raise money for the USMS Swimming Saves Lives Foundation.
THE TEAM
The Lake Erie Relay Team includes Ashley Braniecki, C.C. Skoch, Kristen Bergmann, Chuck Beatty, Jay DeFinis and Kevin Kelley. The team ranges in age from 30 to 57. We’re all veterans of open water races, including the Lake Erie Open Water Classic, Big Shoulders 5K and Swim to the Moon 10K. Many mornings you can find us practicing in Lake Erie west of Cleveland. In addition to the swimmers, the team includes kayakers, pilots and observers.
SUPPORT OUR FUNDRAISING
The Lake Erie Relay Team is excited to support the USMS Swimming Saves Lives Foundation. As Masters swimmers, we want to share our love of the sport with adults who have never had the opportunity to learn to swim. Our goal is to raise $10,000 in donations for the foundation. You can support us today at https://www.usms.org/giving/donate.php. Be sure to type in “Lake Erie Relay” in the Organization field.
The team has received support from around the country—and we especially want to thank the members of O*H*I*O Masters for their generosity.
The team encourages other U.S. Masters Swimming programs to find creative ways to raise support for the Swimming Saves Lives Foundation. When we combine the efforts of many small projects, we can make a big difference for people who love the water but can’t enjoy it as much as we do.
ABOUT THE SWIMMING SAVES LIVES FOUNDATION
Every day, about 10 people die from drowning. The majority of unintentional drowning victims are adults. Drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the U.S.
The purpose of SSLF is to advocate and raise awareness, and to serve as a resource for programs providing adult learn-to-swim lessons. The SSLF solicits charitable contributions and provide grants to SSLF program providers.
The hope is that once an adult learns to swim or improves their swimming skills, they will have the confidence and desire to continue swimming in a Masters Swimming program and experience the lifelong benefits of swimming.
Through the generous contributions of USMS members and other supporters, SSLF has awarded more than $207,000 in grants and resources to programs that are providing adult learn-to-swim opportunities. Thousands of adults have benefited from lessons taught by our program partners.
U.S. Masters Swimming is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions to the USMS Swimming Saves Lives Foundation are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. U.S. Masters Swimming’s tax identification number is 31-0999051. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. USMS’s Florida registration number is CH33301.
CONTACT THE RELAY TEAM
The Lake Erie Relay Team is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/lakeerierelayswim/. Find us and like us! You can also follow us in Twitter @lakeerierelay1.
Impressive! So proud of these awesome swimmers. On July 23, 1982 the Cleveland State Swimmers and Divers raced across Lake Erie from Cleveland’s Edgewater Beach to Rondeau Beach in Erieeau, Ontario. It took 26 hours.mwe raised money to support an Exchange Program with Rio de Janeiro. It was an experience of a lifetime. I wish you a safe journey and successful outcome. Join me in contributing to this worth cause!
Thank you, Coach Morton! We appreciate the support. Good to know that we’re following in the wake of some of the best.