A MESSAGE FROM Steve Swift's Frogman Swim Fundraising Page
Why I am swimming for such a special cause for the 16th straight year: One of the many and most important things the Navy SEAL Foundation does is to ensure that every child of a member of our Special Forces who has given their life in the defense of our country, is guaranteed to have the opportunity to attend college. In order to do that they have to raise a great deal of money. I do many races every year, but this is the only one I compete in to raise money. It just happens to be the weakest sport I compete in, and that makes it more special as this is all about the cause ... our Special Forces and their families.
And these past few years have been tougher for them as an organization, as Covid reduced their fundraising opportunities. For the 2013 swim, I had the added challenge of not having swum for 3.5 months due to my deployment to Afghanistan. I had only a month to get back into shape. I worked hard and finished respectfully on the warmest water day temperature (~70 degrees) of the years I have been doing this swim. In 2016 I had the added challenge of not swimming much/at all after my wife's Kidney (Transplant on 25 August 2016 (due to PKD, a hereditary disease), however, after two months of caregiving, I was back at it! No excuses. as it is about the cause …
In 2018 - it was the tied for the coldest swim with the first year, and I swam my slowest time yet - but once again … It is about the cause … This is the 16th year, and I believe I am one of only 2 swimmers who have had the opportunity to have been involved in all 16 years.
The "race" has gone from 35+ folks swimming across the bay to a full-fledged chipped race (we did not have chips until the 3rd year) of about 200! The pressure is on! Esther, who moved to Buffalo (and has a West Point brother), my trusted kayaker and guide since the beginning, has once again volunteered to lead me to victory! (i.e. - the finish!) And she will be kayaking for her 16th year in a row as well! (the only kayaker to do this all years since that first year!)
I initially did this swim as I was convinced by CAPT John Doolittle, USN (SEALs), a Commander at the time, who persuaded me that even though I had not even swum 2.4 miles straight in my first Ironman, that I could swim 5K across the bay in cold water in January! John swam that first year in only a speedo and neoprene cap when the water temp was about 56 degrees which was coldest of all of the swims until maybe 2018! John deployed and transferred away, but he transferred back to SOCOM and is retired now - and he will be back at the swim this year! Looking forward to swimming (far behind!) my friend John Doolittle, the first Naval Officer to swim the English Channel, and my motivator many years ago!
We must remember it is all about the cause! We all live in a safer country for the sacrifices of the few who have paid the ultimate price for their country. It makes my swim seem not be so bad. I need your help here. Please sponsor me and help support the children of these fallen heroes. And thanks for all that have supported me in this cause in the past, without you, I could not do what I do!
Thanks - Coach Navy Steve, Captain, USNR (ret.)
