2009 Done - Can't wait for 2010!!!!

First off, on behalf of Marjorie Lang, Mark Pasdon, Emma Cornfield, Paul Fixler and JP-Enders-Fein who swam as well as Ryan Prendergast, Lia Schlichthernlein, Donna Mann, and Mickey Mann who provided valuable kayak support, we want to graciously thank everyone for their generous donations!

That being said, this year's event was, without a doubt, the best of the four in which I have participated.  The water temperature was beautiful, the sun was amazing, the support was perfect, and the actual experience in the water was second to none.  I admit, the night before everyone becomes quite anxious.  Have I trained enough?  Have I consumed enough carbs to get me across?  Am I ready?

I'd love to say that this feeling goes away the morning of the swim, but it doesn't.  We all woke up.  We all drove to the starting point.  We got there quite early in order to have a couple of moments to relax, complain, and hydrate (once you get in the water - it is tough to hydrate so you have to be more than prepared).  In the blink of an eye we are wisked off into waiting school buses for the ride over the Tappan Zee Bridge to Nyack.   Upon arrival, you suck down an energy bar, put on your swim cap, and you're quickly set free to begin the swim.  You go from being surrounded by lots of people to being alone in the water. 

Swimming is an interesting activity.  I've climbed, run marathons, and skiied.  I've actually participated in just about every single "adventure" sport there is.  Swimming is different.  Despite all of the kayak support around to keep everyone safe, which provides wonderful peace of mind, swimming is a very solitary activity.  There is no chatting, no cheering, no iPod, no audience.  Everyone is totally alone to "sink or swim," pardon the pun, during this event.

Throughtout the duration of the 3.5 miles in the water your mind wanders.  You develop strategies to manage the relentless drone of each stroke.  You look for signs of progress.  You spot things on shore and make yourself believe you are getting closer.  A glance at your watch reveals you have only been swimming for 30 minutes.  You look back and realize you are closer to the start than the finish.  Time moves slowly.

At a certain point, the end is in sight and you summon the energy and strength to swim faster.  You gain a confidence that you ARE going to finish.  You get closer and closer and the silence of your journey is overcome by the sounds of the gallery cheering on shore.  You breath easier, you relax, you enjoy your success.   The first steps onto the beach are difficult but you manage.  You are sucked into the crowd and your isolation and individual struggle is no longer.  It is an amazing feeling.

The week prior to the swim, while traveling, my cell phone rang.  On the other end was my father who told me the story of a remarkable man who had just succumbed to Leukemia.  My father was a bit shaken due to the suddenness of the event.  A week or so after the event, an employee of Oxygen Electronics who is based in France, gave me a call to tell me about his girlfriend who currently undergoing Chemotherapy treatment in her battle against Leukemia.  I am always amazed how pervasive these diseases are and I'm alway appreciative that I have the physical wherewithall to continue to participate in this event.

I can only imagine that the struggle and the battle against these diseases parallels in some sense the Hudson River Swim.  Getting swept into a powerful river and taking stroke after stroke after stroke in an effort to get to the other side.  Fighting the current seemingly alone.  Discovering the massive network of silent support offered by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 

In these violent and turbulent times, it is reassuring to witness the humanity of mankind and the overwhelming support provided, even when you feel totally alone, by strangers!

$38,105.00 in Donations!!!!!

On behalf of everyone who participated, swim, donated, kayaked, begged for money and supported this event - THANKS SO SO SO SO MUCH!

In 2007 we collectively raised $15,743.00(2009 Donation Page)
In 2008 we collectively raised $12,757.00 (2008 Donation Page)
In 2009 we collectively raised $9,602.00 (2007 Donation Page)

Our 3 year total is $38,105.00 which is an amazing sum of money for a fantastic cause.  We look forward to doing this again next year and count on your continued support.

Halfway to Sanity Swim for Life Peace, Love, & Understanding

Three Mile Swim Team Photo 2009

Three Mile Team for 2009:

Michael Postles (M&T Bank)
Emma Cornfield
Mark Pasdon (Oxygen Electronics)
Marjorie Lang (M&T Bank)
Paul Fixler (Oxygen Electronics)
(left to right)

More Participants

Well - We've managed to sucker three more participants to our Team........ JP Enders-Fein will be swimming in the 1 Mile event and the other swimmers will be supported by John a.k.a Mickey and Donna Mann!

Donations & Training

Thanks to everyone who has donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society so far. Your financial contributions are valued and appreciated but we still have a long way to go. We have all be getting into the water more often and starting to get excited for this event. We hope you will all come out and participate just by showing up!

Note About Donation Page: There seems to be a little bit of confusion this year regarding the donation web site as it only lists one name at the top and then there are links to Marjorie, Norma Jean, Emma, JP & Paul....... Unfortunately we cannot have everyone linked together on one donation page, the software being used just doesn't work that way (we are trying to get them to change it and have us ALL on one page. Please just make a donation and know that our Team is seeing your contributions and is SO VERY APPRECIATIVE of your support.

Training Has Officially Begun

It's time. We are all officially back in the swimming pool and starting to get in shape for our 3.5 mile swim in a couple of months. The arms, shoulders, back, and chest are all a little bit sore. We are all up for the challenge. We'll be updating our blog and beginning to beg for money over the next couple of days and weeks!

Swim Registration is OPEN!

The Date is officially Sept 13th, and Registration is OPEN. Swimmers and Kayakers should register here: http://www.hudsonriverswim.org/index.html

Thanks So Much to Everyone!

The 2008 Hudson River Swim has come and gone and from EVERYONE involved in this event we would all like to express our profound thanks!
So where to start in describing this event??????

Well…… It started with a lot of prayer on the Thursday and Friday prior to the swim. Hurricane Hanna was on her way north and we were (I'm ashamed to say) all praying she would strike her blow on Sunday morning causing the swim to be cancelled. (there was no rain date scheduled!!!)....... Well she came north faster than expected and Sunday turned out to be a BEAUTIFUL day.

So...... Sunday morning Norma Jean, Emma, Marjorie and I connected with Ryan and Lucas in their kayaks and ended up having a wonderful swim in PERFECT conditions. Lucky for us swimmers we never even saw John in his powerboat.

The energy in this event is really indescribable. The day begins with a modicum of nervous apprehension in anticipation of the swim. Lots of people wandering around, a story or two from a survivor for inspiration, and then we all board school busses headed for the other side of the river. After some more waiting we finally get the green light.

The first couple minutes are quite a scramble. You’re a little bit disoriented. There are arms and legs and feet everywhere. After a couple of minutes your body gets going, your breathing settles, you become spaced out, and you settle into a groove, watching with each breath the fantastic view from the water.

The first 90 minutes really pass quite quickly. It is when you finally get close to to the end that it seems to take forever. You can see the hundreds of people on shore. You hear the noise of the crowd. Each stroke takes forever.

You swim and swim and swim and you think you are in shallow enough water to walk out and it is too deep so you swim some more. You finally put your foot down and feel the ground below you and take the first step feeling as though you have totally forgotten how to walk. You hear the noise of the crowd but in a strange way you don’t as you are really focused on putting one foot in front of the next.

We all came to shore with a glorious greeting from our friends, family, and supporters. The energy is AWESOME. You feel great for your accomplishment. You are really on top of the world at this point.

As you struggle to find your supporters you scan the crowd looking for a friendly face, and despite your exhaustion, your eyes manage to focus on a 23 year old bald woman laughing, and smiling, and cheering. In that instant you really feel this amazing sense of community and humanity as the two hour swim pales in comparison to what other have gone through in their fight against cancer.

It is truly humbling to be just a small part of this event! With the help of everyone who donated, fund-raised, kayaked, provided support in their powerboat, or swam we all collectively created a community and I’m so so so proud to say that OUR COMMUNITY is making a difference!

Images Above:

- The Team

- Crowd At Finish Line

- Norma Jean Finishing

- Emma Finishing

- Looking Across

- Mark & Emma After Finishing

TJ Granata Swims in Loving Memory of his Mother

Lois M Granata after beating breast cancer in 1983 and bladder cancer in 2000 was diagnosed in May of 2005 with Leukemia which quickly added her to its victim list in November of 2005.

Mark Pasdon Swims for Bob Nigro

Marjorie Lang swims for Morgan Mosley, Age 3 - Diagnosed in 2008

Diagnosed with ALL on April 4th 2008. She is 3 months into treatment and she is doing very well. She has already won over everyone’s heart in the clinic and tells everyone how she is going to be a doctor when she get older. Thank you for all of the thoughts and prayers

Kevin Ford - Diagnosed May 11, 2007

Norma Jean Longfield swimming for Jerry Vezza - Diagnosed in 2007

After 10 months of intense radiation and chemotherapy, Jerry has been given a clean bill of health and is cancer FREE. Jerry continues to grow stronger everyday, and is now getting back to life.

Emma Cornfield swimming for Laurie Pracher - Diagnosed 2007

In honor of Emma's Stepmom, Laurie Pracher diagnosed Feb 2007 with still rare, and once mostly fatal, form of leukemia called CML-surviving 18 months now due to the research and development and testing of a drug called Gleevec over the past 8 years.

Emma Cornfield participated in the 2007 Swim Across the Hudson and claimed the title of the fastest swimmer on our team.

Manny Greenblatt - Diagnosed in 1988

Swimming In Loving Memory of Donna Black

Welcome to the Team Oxygen Swim Blog

Every year Oxygen Electronics/Brokerlynx works to raise money for the Hudson River Swim, benefitting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Last year we raised over $15,000 to help in the fight against these deadly diseases. This year, we are looking to exceed our record, and along the way, share some stories from our individual swimmers, and the people in whose name they're raising money, through this blog.

Our efforts are a partnership between:

• Oxygen Electronics