Bryan’s Big Lake Swim: Donation Site

A message from Bryan:

Last fall, I swam across the English Channel to test my grit. This summer I want to prove my grit again, and yours too, by swimming across Lake Michigan.

How can you prove “your grit” with me? By sponsoring me for my Big Lake Swim as I seek to raise money for children’s swim lesson scholarships. Together, we can increase water safety in Holland by providing vital financial assistance to those who may not otherwise be able to afford lessons at HAC.

My goal is to raise $50,000 to start this scholarship fund.

Here’s how it will work: As I prepare to swim from Rawley Point Lighthouse near Manitowoc, WI to Big Sable Point Lighthouse near Ludington, MI in early August, I hope you will make a gift to HAC’s swim lesson program via the Donation form on this page.

I know that my swim and fundraising are both formidable challenges, but, to me, both are worth it. With this swim and other swims to come (more on that soon), I want to raise water safety awareness and children’s ability for aquatic aptitude. Drowning is the number one cause of death in children age 1-4 in the US, and the number 2 cause of death (second to car accidents) for children 5-15. Our goal is to remove any barriers that prevent “waterproofing” kids in our community and to eliminate drowning from the top 10 causes of childhood death in our region.

In addition to the Lake Michigan crossing, I will be swimming the 20 Bridges Swim in New York City on Thursday, September 28. The 20 Bridges Swim, together with the English Channel, and Catalina Channel, are referred to as the Triple Crown of open water swimming.

If these two swims in 2023 are successful, the ultimate goal is to complete the Triple Crown and swim all 5 Great Lakes over the next 3 summers. Why? Because with each successive swim, I plan to continue to raise scholarships funds for children to learn to swim at HAC.

This truly is important to me. I hope it is for you too. Please consider helping us reach this goal to give kids important lifelong skills.

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