Swimmers support their sport and each other like few others.
They share training information and tips about currents and weather. They paddle for each other and share kayaking friends with one other. They share feeding strategies and introduce pilots with each other. They lather on lanolin, Vaseline and sunscreen on each other. They help put on swim caps and serve as swim buddies out in the open water. They stay up all night on channel swims and they prepare hydration mixes out in the ocean. They volunteer at open water swims as safety personnel, registration help, markers of race numbers, course marshals, and in any number of ways.
Over the phone, via email, on forums and chat rooms, swimmers are always lending a helping hand, both onshore and in the water.
Psychologically, they also very importantly push each other, support each other and motivate each other on profound levels.
And sometimes they really go out of their way to help others. Their sense of sharing is embedded deep within their DNA.
Long-time swimmer Harris Rosen, who swims every day at lunch time, recently donated US$1 million to Give Kids The World. His generous gift is going to help fund the organization’s capital expansion and improvement project that is part of a five-year, US$120 village campaign.
Opened in 1989, the Give Kids The World Village is a 70-acre resort in Kissemmee, Florida complete with over 140 villa accommodations, entertainment attractions, whimsical venues, and fun specifically designed for children with special needs due to their life-threatening diseases. Over the years, Give Kids The World has brought smiles and lasting memories to more than 120,000 families from all 50 states and over 74 countries.
The youthful-looking hotelier whose vigor is partly enhanced through his regular afternoon workouts made the donation through the Harris Rosen Foundation. The funds will help construct 64 new villas that will accommodate more children with life-threatening illnesses and their families visiting the nonprofit’s resort for a vacation. “Give Kids The World got an early Christmas present this week when I received a phone call that all nonprofits dream of getting,” said GKTW President Pamela Landwirth. “Mr. Rosen’s incredible gift not only jump-starts the fundraising for our new villas, but also provides the inspiration to hope for many more generous gifts in support of our campaign.”
Giving, sharing and donating…an unselfish lifestyle of an incredible swimmer.
Copyright © 2012 by Open Water Source