Team RBG 2.0 & the Swim Across the Sound

Friends,

As many of you know, I'm competing in this year's Swim Across the Sound to support St. Vincent's Hospital's Cancer Center.  The Swim is a 15-mile open water event that starts in Port Jefferson, NY, and finishes on the far side of Long Island Sound in Bridgeport, CT.  Team RBG 2.0 is entered in the Classic (No Wetsuit) category, which means that we'll swim as a relay, taking half-hour pulls while a boat motors slowly alongside us.  We have a team of legitimately talented swimmers -- Andy and I both swam for the Army Swim Team, Class of 1995, while Chris and Stephen are experienced triathletes (and Navy vets).  However, we'll have the tide against us this year, making this a serious challenge.

We're going to beat it, though, and we're going to beat cancer, too.

Team RBG heading out for last year's Swim.

We've been training hard, but really, the Swim is not about swimming.  It's a charity fundraiser that funds community outreach for cancer screenings as well as familial financial support for those who undergo cancer treatments.  Alas, my friends, cancer ain’t cheap.  The Center helps pay mortgage and electric bills for those undergoing treatment, taking at least one stressor off of already stressed families.  When you're fighting cancer, you need all your energy to win that fight.  The Center helps make sure folks don't lose their houses in the process.

Cancer has struck close to home for every member of our team.  Chris and Stephen work at St. Vincent's Hospital and see the good effects of the Swim every day.  Andy lost his wife to cancer just this past year.  Meanwhile, my family has all passed on now, mostly due to cancer.  My mother and my grandparents died from cancer.  My father got cancer but survived, though he struggled mightily with its aftereffects.

This is an important cause for me.  If you can help, please consider it.

Last year, Team RBG raised over $12K to support St. Vincent's Cancer Center.  We want to crush that goal this year, just like we want to crush cancer itself.

You can help via the links below:

Team RBG 2.0

My Personal Fundraising Page

Thank you, friends.  The Swim is Saturday, August 3rd.  We'll try to make you proud.  If you're local, feel free to come by Captain's Cove starting around 3:00 pm for the after-party.  It's always epic.

Also: there've been several great white shark sightings in Long Island Sound this summer.  If any of us get eaten, I promise that we will get that on video.

Thanks again.

Sincerely,

Dan