Courtesy of Michael Ventre, New York to London Swim.
Sometimes, it is harder to get to the starting line than it is to the finish.
Several people have had plans to attempt a transoceanic solo stage swim, but few have raised the requisite money to handle all of the logistics and operations required of such an attempt.
Over the last several months and the last five days in particular, Michael Ventre has attempted to raise sufficient funds to start his 3,800-mile (6,115 km) transoceanic New York to London Swim.
“The last 5 days has been a mixture of emotions,” he wrote after his last fundraising campaign was closed.
“Most have been of great excitement. This is the closest I have been to making the swim a reality. That’s because of all of you who have supported me throughout. Sourcing the right support boat and crew took two years due to the unique requirements of the swim and obtaining the support of amazing companies was a tremendous challenge whilst also working full-time in IT and finding the time to train.
Although the boat and crew are ready to depart from Cape Town in the coming days, the swim will not take place. The cost of the venture has come down from around US$2 million, but I am still US$155,000 short. The last 5 days the project was able to raise US$14,600.
It would have taken two months for the boat to reach New York and I would not be able to leave Manhattan later than the first or second week of April due to the onset of the hurricane season. Leaving in April would stand me the safest possible option for doing the transoceanic crossing, likely arriving in the English Channel around July with the peak of the hurricanes occurring in September.
As for now, I will be in touch personally with all my sponsors, donors and Oxfam to decide the next best steps going forward in the next few days. Thank you all for your continued support.”
Ventre was hoping to raise £5,000,000 in aid of Oxfam, but he needed to first raise US$220,000 to secure his escort boat and cover the operational costs.
Copyright © 2016 by World Open Water Swimming Association