Pat Gallant-Charette announced that the Valentines Day…Swim for your Heart (formerly Swim for Your Heart Feb 14) is a tribute to Norway’s Alexander Dale Oen, a 2008 Olympic silver medalist, who died of a heart attack at the age of 26.
“The Swim For Your Heart is meant to bring an awareness of heart disease and prevention. So far, there are swimmers from 30 countries participating in thought and action,” explains the Gallant-Charette.
“In some locations, the local medical community has been invited to provide free blood pressures, free cholesterol screening and provide heart healthy information to all swimmers at poolside or open water venue. Swimmers are encourage to make a donation to their favorite heart program. Here in Maine, Maine Medical Center is providing free screening at several pools.”
The 61-year-old full-time registered nurse has completed swims across the English Channel on her third attempt (15 hours 57 minutes), the Strait of Gibraltar (3 hours 28 minutes), the Catalina Channel (14 hours 11 minutes), the Tsugaru Channel (19 hours 36 minutes) and is scheduled to attempt the Cook Strait in New Zealand (April 2013) and the North Channel (August 2013) in her quest to achieve the Oceans Seven Challenge. She is not a woman who shirks from a challenge and sees the ravages of heart disease everyday in her line of work.
And so she works hard to see the global expansion and success of Valentines Day…Swim for your Heart event. “My brother died at the age of 34 from a heart attack. Robbie was captain of the Northeastern University swim team. He competed in numerous triathlons, ran the Boston Marathon, and won the Peaks to Portland Swim twice. He looked healthy, but he was unaware that he had heart disease. It is very important to me to let swimmers be aware that they need to have their blood pressures, cholesterol levels check and get a check-up by their physician even though they feel and look healthy.”
Individuals or groups can raise funds and contribute to their local or national heart or healthcare organizations. Swimmers and supporters can obtain pledges indepedently. For more information, visit SwimForYourHeartFeb14.com.
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