Healing the Lifeblood

Everyday as I drive home from work there is this brief moment when I come over the crest of a hill, and am treated to a spectacular view of the Hudson River.  Its beauty overwhelms me and just for a moment, all of the stress and drudgery of the day washes away. Inevitably some other driver or small annoyance breaks my reverie, but I am always grateful for those few seconds of exquisite beauty. 

The river is a powerful, dynamic, gorgeous body of water, which is why I am often taken aback by people's disgusted reactions when I talk about the Swim for Life. "Eww, but the Hudson is sooo dirty!" Every time there is a news story about the health of the river, I worry. I worry that we will be kept away. I worry that it won't get better. I worry most, though, that people will do nothing.
  
The Hudson has been a dumping ground for many years, first it was the ships, then the factories, and oh, the sewage.  For too long the Hudson has been abused by the people who needed her most. Thanks to the efforts of amazing groups like Riverkeeper, Clearwater Hudson and people like Pete Seeger, Dar Williams and so many more, the Hudson is healing, but it will take all of us to make her as healthy as possible.

In many ways, the fact that the Swim for Life raises money for blood cancer is especially appropriate, because the Hudson is the lifeblood of this community and she needs our help to heal. By swimming in her waters and giving her our love and our voices, we can heal her too.
 
Last week there was a report that drug-resistant bacteria had been discovered in the river (not near our swim sites, thankfully). The bacteria is the result of waste-water treatment facilities and improper dumping, which is maddening AND completely controllable.  We have the power to fix that. Call the state, ask for more inspections of waste water plants and higher fines for those who break the rules. Join Riverkeeper. Go to the Clearwater Festival. Come swim with me(or donate to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society)

Together, we can Cure Cancer AND Heal the Lifeblood of our community.