There are just five days left until the Hudson River Swim for Life and the seriousness of what we're doing has settled in. Tonight we had our safety meeting where we were reminded of all of the potential risks and dangers the waters might hold. We have been training for over three months, but each of us seemed a little shaken. Three of us at the meeting trained last year for the three mile, only to have the swim cut to a one mile swim with just 24 hours notice. I think in some ways the three of us, Andy, Sandy and myself, were more nervous than the first timers, because we have spent almost seven months of our lives training and it all comes down to this Saturday. We have worked so hard and given up so much sleep (and a little dignity begging for funds), if we can't reach the finish line, it will feel like failure.
But it will not be failure. Together, along with our teammates, we have raised tens of thousands of dollars to fight blood cancer. Last night, we learned that, a few days ago, our coach lost a former student to Leukemia. A child who smiled and played and never wanted to be different, a child who never made it to high school, lost her fight. Everyone on the team is swimming with someone in their minds and hearts. If the dollars we raise can help comfort a grieving family, make therapies more affordable or support the research that will finally put an end to blood cancer, then no matter what happens on Saturday, we will have succeeded.
There is still time to help. Donate at http://pages.teamintraining.org/wch/Hudson12/emilyg
No comments:
Post a Comment