CuttingWater

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Marcy MacDonald is feeling blessed 

https://www.facebook.com/scott.lautman/videos/10212310505545396/
Just to clarify and apologies about my tracker, I have no clue what was going on... we finished at a beach north of Calais France, Phare de Walde, 15h01min.
The quest to Belgium did not go as planned, but sometimes the weather over can not be explained.
Michael Oram had plotted a perfect course (with all the tidal changes). We were flying (so to speak) at times, then as we turned north along the French coast, we were hit with a long-standing wind/against tide...which is the worse water mix for a swimmer.
Rouge waves were hitting me straight on, that previously were shielded by Gallivant.
I had most of my injury-prone areas (shoulder/upper back) under control, but I must have been hit/thrown enough times that my left Latissimus dorsi muscle was pulled/overly strained...needless to say, my left side became useless and extremely painful with every stroke. Then it became a one-arm event.
After swimming, in place(it seemed like eternity), in-front of Calais, I don't know how many ferries passed by (not close...don't worry, we were well out from the traffic).
Unfortunately, we still had to swim for a couple hours to a safe beach, which was an adventure in itself. Scott swam in with me for safety reasons... I was swimming with only my right arm, alternating freestyle and butterfly drill by now. it was a very cool beach, but scary at times. While walking across a large sandbar, I saw a head in the water. Thinking it was a local taking an evening, I thought nothing of it, until it went underwater, and in a split second it was 25 yards closer.
We were swimming with a seal family, and they certainly were checking us out.
I wish I had my camera, but we had more pressing issues, finish and then swim back to the boat.
All IS good, I'm sore, but THANKFUL for ALL YOUR support and caring thoughts.
Thank you to my crew, Janet Galya (always looking at me with her caring eyes, I'm sorry I put you through this) , Scott Lautman for helping in and out the water and Jane Murphy our crew Mom.
Mike Oram, Mike Ball and Tanya Harding for the safe passage and return to port. Jason Kelvin and Kerry (apologies for not remembering your last name) for your official observation duties.
Lastly for friends, Louise Darlington and Hugh for seeing us off at the early hours at St. Margaret's Bay and meeting us at the docks...thank you so much.

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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.