It happened in the blink of an eye. When the propeller of a Maui Channel Swim boat overran John Caughlin in mid-stroke, it grotequely twisted his body out of the water with a force and torque that changed his life forever.

And his friends will never forget either.

Despite the lost of a portion of his right arm and fingers of his left hand, Caughlin remained upbeat and an inspiration to those who swim and work with him.

Board Short Mile is a charity ocean swim in Hermosa Beach, California that supports the Challenged Athletes Foundation. The non-competitive swim was inspired by Caughlin. Organized by California watermen George Hicks and Tom Hoffman, swimmers can register and participate anywhere in the world. Swimmers can do their mile swim at their local open water swimming spot and fund raise through the Challenged Athlete Foundation website for the Board Short Mile event. Those who participate in Hermosa Beach and the virtual participants will all receive the official board shorts to wear during the event.

It is the mission of the Challenged Athletes Foundation to provide opportunities and support to people with physical disabilities so they can pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics. The Challenged Athletes Foundation believes that involvement in sports at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life.

To register, visit here.

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