Chris Manetta's Fundraising Page
Christopher Manetta is raising money for June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund
Participants: Steve Lee Reading Roadrunners
Story
A BIG THANKS FOR VISITING MY FUNDRAISING PAGE (and please note, although the target has been reached please don't let that prevent you from continuing to donate to a very worthy cause. Thank you once again).
Written after hearing of the Hellespont Swim 2009 - by Kathy Tytler (Reading Roadrunners). With acknowledgement to Lord Byron’s poem on a similar subject. Chris has conquered Hellespont Like Lord Byron before him “Like Leander who nightly wont” To enter this cool stream and swim Chris has crossed the open sea From Europe to Asia’s shore Was it for Glory or Love did he Swim, or for something more? Lord Byron was god’s gift, he thought Leander perhaps was more so As for Chris, when swimming he was caught With only speedos on his torso! Byron, “degenerate modern wretch” Said he swam for glory But his endurance it did stretch And ague finished off his story Leander crossed on many a night To his Hero to make love Guided by her lantern’s light Lit by stars and moon above One night Hero’s light did fail Sad Leander then was drowned To compound this tragic lovers’ tale Hero dead on the rocks was found But Chris swam for reasons pure Raising finds for mesothelioma Chris crossed Hellespont in less that one hour We will give him a hero’s diploma What lantern was there to guide his swim? My light shone bright on The Ridgeway What motivation, what image guided him? To conquer Hellespont on that day - Kathy Tytler Sept 2009
Reading Roadrunners (a great club to belong to) is focusing on raising funds to the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund after one of its long standing members, Steve Lee, a popular guy, was diagnosed with lung cancer, a terminal disease. (Please see info on the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund opposite). This year, I wanted to do more than just donate to the club's charity and have chosen to enter a special event of swimming the Hellespont to help raise funds.
On Sunday 30th August 2009 the Turkish authorities on their National Remembrance Day close off the shipping (including the Russian tankers that go up through to the Black Sea) in support of a swim race from asia to europe, a distance of about 5K across the Hellespont. It is a race that is normally closed to foreign entrants but is now attracting swimmers from all around the globe. Inspired by a running buddy at the Reading Roadrunners Club and fellow cerocer (modern jive dancer), Steve Lee, I need to make this daunting journey into something else. Remember, every bit helps!
The Hellespont is arguably the most iconic swim in the world. In Greek mythology the story of Hero and Leander is a Romeo & Juliet style tradgedy. Hero, a priestess of Aphrodite, lived on the European side of the Hellespont (Sestos) in a high tower by the sea. Leander, a young man from the Asian side (Abydos), swam every night guided by the lamp which his mistress lit at the top of the tower, in order to spend the night with his beloved Hero; and before dawn, he returned to his city by the same means. Winter came and still Hero lit the lamp and still Leander braved the treacherous seas. Then one night during a violent storm, the lamp was blown out of the window and Leander, losing his way among the dark and heaving waves, was drowned. Next morning Hero looked down and saw his body washed up on the shore. In her grief she flung herself from the tower, falling to her death beside her lover.
.Lord Byron, whilst travelling in the region and being well-acquainted with the myth, wished to repeat Leander's swim. On his second attempt he swam across the Hellespont from Sestos to Abydos on 3rd May 1810, accompanied by Lieutenant Ekenhead, a Royal Naval officer from the frigate HMS Salsette which was at anchor in the Dandanelles. It is reported that the strong current forced them to swim about twice the distance of the shortest crossing. Byron subsequently caught a fever, about which he jokes in his poem written to celebrate his exploit.
....'Twere hard to say who fared the best:
Sad mortals! thus the Gods still plague you!
He lost his labour, I my jest;
For he was drowned, and I,ve the ague"
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
So please sponsor me on this daunting but beautiful journey!
THE DIARY
22nd June 2009:- The flight, accommodation and entry fee is now paid for (self-funded). The next important task is to start training. I'll think I'll start with food first!!
June '09:- I read that Lord Byron was born with a clubfoot! This was an embarassment to him and led to his passion in swimming. I note that he first attempted to swim across the Hellespont in the month of April! I am impressed - no wetsuit then.
June '09:- One of my sponsors, Penny, suggests a practise swim in the sea. Quite right! I'll have to arrange at least one sea swim between now and then. Meanwhile, I do have an open water swim marathon session in the River Wye passing through Gloucestershire coming up quite soon.
June'09:- Learnt that the Turkish authorities will haul you out of the water if one does not make the crossing in 90 minutes! There were several swimmers who were disqualified in last year's race because they did not make this cut-off time. Gosh, better start swimming! In addition, there have been no fatalities to date and over 200 swimmers started the event last year.
1st July '09:- Swam a mile at the Guildford Lido in just under 30 mins. Need to keep this same pace up for another two miles to prevent being dragged out of the water by the organisers. (Don't want to cause unneccessary delay to the Russian economy!)
July '09:- Swam a total of approx.10 miles over two days along the river Wye between Ross-on-Wye and Symmonds Yat (current assisted of course). This event was organised by Swimtrek. Met a lady in the group called Jenny who had finished the Hellespont swim last year in the given time. Well done her! She gave me some very useful advice and now the whole swim appears less daunting. It's 2K across the hellespont from north to south before one hits a strong current that glides you along a further 3K along the asian side to Canakkale but being careful not to miss the narrow steps at the finish!
July '09:- In answer to the challenge laid down by donor, Jacob Mackenzie, I am aiming for a time of 65 mins! (Based on last year's results, current fitness and the info from Jenny). Jacob, please note!
July '09:- In an effort to push my donations nearer my target I put an ad in the village shop window where I live and asked for odd jobs to be done. Not for a wage but to donate to this charity (JHMF). Good news! The jobs being met are making a huge difference and I am getting a lot of pleasure out of it. OK, so the training is going downhill but I can live with that. Although, it might mean losing out to Jacob's challenge. Hmm.... I,ll just have to get up that little bit earlier to make those early bird swim sessions.
July '09:- Channel Four is doing a programme on Lord Byron. It is being shown on Monday 27th July at 9pm and could cover his swim across the Hellespont. He once wrote that he would rather have swam the hellespont than to have written all his poetry.
July '09:- I confess I did not enjoy Rupert Everett's singularly possesive presentation on Byron's travels. Doubtless, Everett will succeed in crossing the Hellespont on his second attempt next week, just like Byron! On 30th August 2009 I'll be focused on racing across the Hellespont and not immerse myself with the scandels of Byron. Think I need another hero.
July '09:- I heard from Steve Lee that there is a play called 'Dust' based on June Hancock's life and her fight against this terrible disease. Both Steve and his wife, Ros, went up to Leeds to meet the charity's trustees and see the play.
July '09:- One of my sponsors, Pam Lievesley, let me know that her daughter, Alison, has just swam the English Channel in 13hours 14 mins on 2nd August! Congratulations to her and what a fantastic feat! Alison landed at Cap Blanc Nez just as it got dark on barnacle encrusted rocks and has the grazes to prove it!
1st August '09:- The jobs I am doing in order to raise extra monies are still going well and they range from cleaning cars, to guttering, painting sheds/fencing, clearing garden refuse, pruning, mowing lawns, numerous visits to the local tip (never hoovered out my car so much), heaving hard core from one part of a garden to another and clearing a drain. Smelly, but man's stuff by gum!
7th August '09:- Competed in an Aquathlon at the Guildford Lido that consisted of a 500 metre swim and a 5K run immediately after (transistion time included). Completed the course in just under 30 mins. So, fitness is relatively on course. Still have my doubts about completing the hellespont swim in 65 mins though!
13th August '09:- Made an appeal at the Ceroc dance class in Fleet tonight and spoke about the charity. Received a fantastic response. Raised £169-52pence! Incredible! There are still some cerocers who said they would sponsor me on-line so there is still a likelihood of more to come from those generous dancers. Amazing! In fact if they are reading this diary please could they put ceroc/fleet in brackets against their names as it would be useful to know just how much in total was raised from this venue. (Had some great dancing too). A huge thank you to everybody that donated that evening and especially to Simon White the man in charge for letting me make my plea and supporting it himself very generously also. I 'll never say another bad word against that man ever again! UPDATE;- Total of £387-02 had been raised from this great venue. A large part of that money raised was thanks to fellow cerocer Joy (a fantastic contribution)!
19th August '09:- Swam two miles at Guildford Lido in 60 mins, two mins slower than I had hoped for. Met Richard Stannard there whilst training and boy could he swim! He made me feel extremely slow. Richard is a serious contender to represent the UK in the next Olympics. On 25th August I fly out to Istanbul and get to see the magnificient sights of this ancient city before I make my way to Canakkale and meet up with my hosts, SwimTrek, for the hellespont swim taking place on 30th August.
20th August '09:- Attended All Saints Church, Middleton Cheney, Oxfordshire. Nigel Braggins RIP. 4th February 1957 - 2nd August 2009. Tour De Trigs record holder, former Oxfordshire Marathon Champion & friend.
24th August '09:- Swam a mile in 27mins at Farnham swim pool. Pleased with the effort and have my last swim session tommorow at the Lido where I will aim to do some 500 metre swims. Also, the last of the odd-jobs I was doing to raise more funds was completed today. Have raised around £500 from these tasks - worth it!
28th August '09:- 2 days spent ın ISTANBUL - a very ımpressıve ancıent cıty. Count down to race = 2 days !
29th August '09:- Settlıng ın Canakkale where all competıtors had a medıcal examınatıon before race day to reassure the organısers. 288 competıtors have regıstered and all were allowed a practıce swım ın the sea ın Canakkale. Swam one kılometre lıke most and wıtnessed some very strong swımmers. There appears around 200 turkısh swımmers and the rest from dıfferent parts of the globe ıncludıng Russıa and Amerıca. One partıcular Australıan called Andrew Ragless looks useful and should compete agaınst the fastest of the Turkısh swımmers. I am ınformed the prevaılıng south westerly wınds could cause a problem tommorrow as we are swımmıng ınto them from the European sıde. Feelıng a lıttle nervous but excıted all the same. Tonıght ıs our pre-race pasta party!
Brıefıng was a lıttle confusıng. A case of lost ın translatıon wıth words such as buoy & ballons and kılometres and mıles but generally OK. The pasta party, as always, just never enough for the athletes! Great hospıtalıty though by our Turkısh frıends. Event sponsored by Quantum. Hope they get the tımıng rıght!
30th August '09:- 3 hours to go! Yet another medıcal & regıstratıon requıred before a ferry rıde across to Ecabat (european sıde) where the start wıll commence at 1pm (11am Brıtısh tıme). If you faıl the medıcal one can sıgn a dısclaımer and stıll get to swım! Awoken by the drums at about 3.30am symbolısıng Ramadan and agaın at 5am wıth the prayer callıng. Very atmospherıc and very real despıte the lack of sleep. Thınk I need another coffee - sıgnıng off.
Success! I crossed the helespont ın 59mıns 04 secs. The time suprised me, and, in truth, a little easier than I had antcipated. My approach to the finish could have been better but than I am short sighted. I strongly believe I could improve my crossing by around 5 minutes. The swim was rough in two places of around 5-10 mins in duration. I am not in receipt of the full results yet and am unaware if all 288 swimmers who entered had completed the swim. In May of next year there is to be an additional crossing recognising the 200th anniversary of Lord Byron's swim. Got interviewed, along with others, by BBC Radio Four which may form part of a programme for next years event.
Once again, met a great crowd of people of all ages and backgrounds during this excellent mission abroad!
- Signing off, well almost! Not without having a bash at a poem of my crossing of the Hellespont, all be it a tad rather deep. Here goes...............
Byron Is Waiting
They cross the divide like life's perilous journey ahead
Nearing their last breath, unknowingly, it can be said.
I see their flailing arms, little foresight and much want
For I, too, once swam the Hellespont.
Foolish spirits! I gaze not from the Gods above
But from the murkey depths below, waiting....
So, sinketh into the abiss on the hour of my need
Through sodomy,infidelity, embezzlement and greed.
- Christopher Manetta
(apologies to my mum)
A late but great submission by RRR's very own Tim (never timid) Povey.
He swam from Turkey, like a fish.
Across the deep and bounding main,
And daunted not was our brave Chris.
He swam tthatt charity might gain.
To copy Byron was his wish
And great success did he attain.
Lord B tried twice; our Chris did less
And swam it at his first atttempt.
One thought had given some distress
To which no swimmer was exempt.
They must take ninety mins. or less.
If not, they fail. Rules would pre-empt.
Perhaps because his cause was just
On him the Gods and current smiled.
Unlike Leander, not for lust
He braved the Hellespont so wild,
As strongly through the waves he thrust.
On clock - less than one hour dialled!
- Tim Povey (Reading Roadrunners).