This October, I’m taking on the ultimate challenge: swimming the English Channel! A gruelling 21-mile journey through some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, unpredictable tides, cold waters, and a battle against exhaustion. It’s one of the toughest endurance feats out there—but while I’m doing it, I'll be supporting a cause that is vital to keeping Long Island Sound open and Clean.

From my earliest memories, water has been a constant in my life. Whether it was learning to swim at the local YWCA or exploring the shores of Rhode Island with my brother searching for minnows and small creatures to proudly show our parents, I felt a deep connection to the water. That connection only grew stronger over time, especially along the coast of Long Island Sound- a place that became central to my childhood.

One memory stands out more than most: I was at Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich during a summer when the beach was closed for maybe a week or two. For a young kid who spent most of his time in the water, it felt like forever. The reason was alarming: illegal medical waste had polluted the water. At the time, it was a serious issue, and it forced my parents to make a decision that would shape my life in unexpected ways. Instead of spending our days at the beach, my brother and I joined a swim club. When summer ended, we didn’t want it to stop, so our parents signed us up at the local YWCA. Swimming quickly became more than just a pastime—it became part of who we were. I continued swimming through high school and into college.

Then life happened. I went to college, had fun, and slowly swimming became less of a priority. Eventually, ten years went by without a single lap in a pool. In 2020, my twin daughters were born and something shifted. I returned to swimming, joining a local masters program led by my childhood coach. Slowly but surely, I began to regain the form and strength I had lost.

During one practice, teammates mentioned an open water swim in Bermuda. I had never swum open water before and was curious to try. There were multiple race options, and despite having very little open water experience, I signed up for the 5K. That race changed everything. I finished strong, but more importantly, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. I wanted to go farther, push harder, and reconnect with the water in a deeper way. I was hooked. I signed up for swim after swim, as many as I could find and get to. Along the way, I met many people who had done swims I could never dream of, and it kept pushing me further and further. After some time, I was convinced to sign up for the swim around Manhattan, 20 Bridges- a 28.5 mile swim around the island of Manhattan in 2024

That journey has now led me to take on a new challenge—one that is not just personal, but meaningful beyond myself. I am swimming to support Save the Sound, an organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the very waters that shaped my childhood. Their mission resonates deeply with me. I’ve seen firsthand what pollution can do—how it can shut down beaches, disrupt communities, and take away something as simple and powerful as the ability to swim freely.

Today, I’m asking for your support. Your donation will help fund critical efforts to keep our waters clean, safe, and accessible for future generations. It will ensure that children like mine—and like I once was—can experience the joy of swimming, exploring, and connecting with nature without fear.

This swim is more than a personal goal. It’s a way to give back, to protect something that has given me so much. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to cleaner water and healthier communities.

If you can spare anything at all, I would be so genuinely grateful. Every donation, no matter the size, means more than I can say.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Drew

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A Little about the swim:

The English Channel is a unique and demanding swim, considered by many to be the ultimate long distance challenge. It isn't just the distance that is the challenge, but more, the variable conditions that you are likely to encounter. These may vary for mirror like conditions to wind force 6 and wave heights in excess of 2 metres. The water is cold and you are strongly advised to acclimatize to it, there is a good chance of meeting jellyfish, seaweed and the occasional plank of wood. It is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world with 600 tankers passing through and 200 ferries/seacats and other vessels going across daily.