The Swim
Recap of May 2014 Event
Swimmers and volunteers gathered Saturday, 24th of May, 2014 on the Côtes des Arcadins for an open-water swim to the Côte des Arcadins, Haiti from the Iles des Arcadins, the first of its kind in Haiti.
Organizers had two main objectives:
1) Raising money to teach basic swimming skills to Haitian children, both to avoid drownings (many die of drowning each year) as well as to enjoy the beautiful waters that surround the island (100% of the funds donated after Paypal fees go to Ian Lyons' swimming program for Haitian children).
2) Raising awareness outside of Haiti that this country is not just about poverty and earthquakes, but is a place worth visiting as a tourist, and that doing so is one of the best ways to help Haiti — by supporting the local economy to build and sustain the ability to help themselves.
Everyone had a tremendous time -- not just us swimmers, but everyone who came to volunteer. With high swells (3-5 foot swells) and high wind, it was daunting, but we all made the ~ 4.8 mile swim from the Iles des Arcadins to the Côte des Arcadins (one swimmer had to leave for a afternoon flight so she was plucked out of the water before she could finish -- what commitment to even make it out!). See the photos from this year or meet last year's swimmers.
Everyone involved intends to do this next year and make this an annual event. This is the first year, and the goals were modest:
a) to show that it's not only possible, and
b) to learn how to make it fun, productive, and repeatable.
We can confidently say that this first year was a success!! Our goal is that at our third annual swim, we will have over 100 people coming to Haiti because of the Swim -- not necessarily all swimmers, but people who see the pictures and videos of a beautiful Caribbean country and realize that they must come, and then further spread the message why they must visit Haiti.
Special thanks go to our donors, esp. Jesse Engle, Judy Sim, Wicke Lemke, and Genie Lemke for the generous contributions to Ian Lyons’ children's swimming program.
Our sincerest appreciation for the rapid mobilization, support and enthusiasm from our volunteers and supporters -- you guys made it fun and feasible:
+ Charles Fombrun and Moulin Sur Mer / Marina Blue for supporting with boat logistics
+ Wicke and Genie Lemke from Wahoo for braving the rough waters, the extra boat, and cheering on the swimmers (and for that slice of pineapple at mile 3.5)
+ Jason Hersh and Tim Lyons for the safety management and support
+ Danielle Dreis for the videography work -- it'll help us spread the word for next year
+ Natalia da Silva and Jeff Kerzner for the photography work
+ Angela Galbreath for the logistics support
+ Sabine Kast for the idea to make this a charity swim and for the SFH logo
+ Lara Berry and Mireille Fombrun for the moral support (and for the music)
+ Jerry Mourra for use of his boat and jetski
+ Reginald Duff from Kiyona Beach for the hospitality during our beach landing
+ Andree Pun at Wahoo for getting hungry swimmers great food after the swim
And of course for Dominique Cavonis, Stephanie Kletschnitzki, Jim Chu, and Darragh Dolan for braving the choppy waters as pioneers and doing the "impossible".
Organizers had two main objectives:
1) Raising money to teach basic swimming skills to Haitian children, both to avoid drownings (many die of drowning each year) as well as to enjoy the beautiful waters that surround the island (100% of the funds donated after Paypal fees go to Ian Lyons' swimming program for Haitian children).
2) Raising awareness outside of Haiti that this country is not just about poverty and earthquakes, but is a place worth visiting as a tourist, and that doing so is one of the best ways to help Haiti — by supporting the local economy to build and sustain the ability to help themselves.
Everyone had a tremendous time -- not just us swimmers, but everyone who came to volunteer. With high swells (3-5 foot swells) and high wind, it was daunting, but we all made the ~ 4.8 mile swim from the Iles des Arcadins to the Côte des Arcadins (one swimmer had to leave for a afternoon flight so she was plucked out of the water before she could finish -- what commitment to even make it out!). See the photos from this year or meet last year's swimmers.
Everyone involved intends to do this next year and make this an annual event. This is the first year, and the goals were modest:
a) to show that it's not only possible, and
b) to learn how to make it fun, productive, and repeatable.
We can confidently say that this first year was a success!! Our goal is that at our third annual swim, we will have over 100 people coming to Haiti because of the Swim -- not necessarily all swimmers, but people who see the pictures and videos of a beautiful Caribbean country and realize that they must come, and then further spread the message why they must visit Haiti.
Special thanks go to our donors, esp. Jesse Engle, Judy Sim, Wicke Lemke, and Genie Lemke for the generous contributions to Ian Lyons’ children's swimming program.
Our sincerest appreciation for the rapid mobilization, support and enthusiasm from our volunteers and supporters -- you guys made it fun and feasible:
+ Charles Fombrun and Moulin Sur Mer / Marina Blue for supporting with boat logistics
+ Wicke and Genie Lemke from Wahoo for braving the rough waters, the extra boat, and cheering on the swimmers (and for that slice of pineapple at mile 3.5)
+ Jason Hersh and Tim Lyons for the safety management and support
+ Danielle Dreis for the videography work -- it'll help us spread the word for next year
+ Natalia da Silva and Jeff Kerzner for the photography work
+ Angela Galbreath for the logistics support
+ Sabine Kast for the idea to make this a charity swim and for the SFH logo
+ Lara Berry and Mireille Fombrun for the moral support (and for the music)
+ Jerry Mourra for use of his boat and jetski
+ Reginald Duff from Kiyona Beach for the hospitality during our beach landing
+ Andree Pun at Wahoo for getting hungry swimmers great food after the swim
And of course for Dominique Cavonis, Stephanie Kletschnitzki, Jim Chu, and Darragh Dolan for braving the choppy waters as pioneers and doing the "impossible".
The Volunteers
Post by Swim For Haiti.