CuttingWater

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Race Preparation


After saying "good bye" to Bert and Liz, Janet and I walked over to my meeting place for the race, South Cove. We watched the early morning fishermen at Battery Park. When we made all the way around the tip off the island, I was feeling nice and warmed up from our morning stroll.

At arrival time, the race officials were setting up, swimmers were roaming around, saying "good morning greetings".


We arrived on time, as instructed. Wandering around, too early to get ready. Janet took some pictures of the harbor. We decided to head over to our hotel, which was only a few blocks away. An easier place to get the sun screen on and to put on my suit (Speedo Endurance).

At 6:05am, we went back to South Cove. All the swimmers had made it there. Martin Belderson was interviewing John VanWisse for the documentary.

I found a nice, dry bench to set up my equipment and started some stretching. George Hunihan came over and we chatted about his days on Wall Street, the disaster on 9/11 and what was going on today.




At 6:45am the kayaks began arriving from North Cove and Pier 40. We knew time was getting close. Our #'s were written on our arms, me ... 16.


At 6:50am, Janet started heading out to the Brooklyn Bridge for some photos. Then we got the news, that the start was going to pushed back until 7:15am. That 15 minutes may make a difference for some of the slower swimmers.

At 7:10, Morty Berger, the Race Director, signaled us to head down the gang plank and line up in numerical order. One by one, we jumped into South Cove and swam away from the dock. The Cove was lightly littered with debris, making the few warm-up laps abit disgusting.

After the last swimmer entered the water and we lined up behind the bright orange buoys, the Count Down began.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 BEEEEEP....the 2009 Manhattan Island Marathon Swim begins.





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2015 ... Swimming for Homes for the Brave

After spending the past 20 years paddling from Dover to France, it is time to venture into new waters, while helping some special people.
Soon, I will be traveling with my A-team to Scotland to swim the length of the famous Loch Ness.
As always, I try to help a Foundation raise funds and awareness and I thank you for interest and support.
I am deeply troubled with the thought of homeless individuals, especially in our US Veteran population.

That is why I am teaming up with our Connecticut-based “Homes for the Brave”. Can you imagine not having a place to call home?

Here is more information about Homes for the Brave! -Facebook pages – https://www.facebook.com/pages/ABRIHomes-for-the-Brave/199613606735630?ref=hl

- Annual Appeal with more information about our financials and programs- http://www.homesforthebrave.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/HFTB-2014-Annual-Report-FINAL.pdf

-Check donations can be mailed to the following address:
Homes for the Brave
655 Park Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06604

- Donations can be made online as well: https://homesforthebrave.isecuresites.com/products/index.php?type=1110

Please write “Loch Ness Swim/Marcy” to track your donation.


I will always be dedicating my swimming to all those battling cancer and in the memory of 4 special people in my life. Cancer first hit my family when I was young. My grand-aunt Eleanor Kersavage, passed away with uterine cancer and my Auntie Bea Halchak battled with brain cancer.

On January 1, 2002, our LEHY family lost Nikki Giampolo to bone cancer, just turning 16 years old. Her spirit still lives on in our East Hartford swim team.

In July of 2009, my brother-in-law, Gregory Allen Urban, who passed away, after a valient battle with lung cancer. I can see him now, talking about cars and projects around the house, music and his family.

I know Aunties, Eleanor and Bea, Nikki, Greg and all the angels will help me CUT through all this water this summer.

The St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation, based in Bridgeport, CT provides financial support for the needs that Health insurance companies don't cover, in addition to providing affordable cancer screening, wigs, medication and other things to make life easier for those suffering with cancer and their families.

Please make a donation, and thank you.

Online donations can be made at: http://give.stvincents.org

or you can send a check through the post to:

Swim Across the Sound
St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation
2800 Main Street
Bridgeport, CT 06606
(203)576-5451

Thank you so very much, peace and good health to all.