The sun rose with our swimmers in San Francisco this year as Team Hydro gathered on the shores of Aquatic Park for our 10th Alcatraz Swim for Hydrocephalus! It was a beautiful day all around, as fun was had, friendships were formed, and most important awareness and funds were raised for hydrocephalus!
Swimmers and on-land supporters alike were motivated by the stories of courageous people who are living with or have passed from hydrocephalus, and gained new appreciation for the importance of our mission! Each swimmer wore a band honoring a specific person living with (or who had passed on due to) hydrocephalus — which served as a potent and sobering reminder of why we do what we do.
One of our swimmers (swimming in honor of Lake, a 10 year boy who has already shown rare courage in enduring many brain surgeries) reported that during the race, he developed severe muscle cramps in his leg. He was about to give up on the swim, and call a kayak to tow him to shore, when he looked down and saw the bracelet he was wearing bearing the name of the young man of which he was swimming in honor. Remembering all that the young patient had endured already in his young life fueled our swimmer with renewed energy and determination. He reported raising his arm in the air and shouted, “This is for you, Lake!” and he finished the race!
Lake and his family after the Alcatraz Swim!
Best of all, Lake was at the finish line! Having travelled all the way from Grimsby, Canada to watch his Dad swim from Alcatraz for the first time, Lake’s cheerful nature and determined spirit reminded every Team Hydro swimmer why we do what we do! And why we must not stop until a CURE is found!
Team Hydro members were also inspired by the resilience, strength and determination of fellow Team Hydro swimmer, 16 year old Kyle Voulgaris!! Kyle, who happens to be living with shunted hydrocephalus, (and made his first crossing when he was only 10) finished the race in an amazing 30:38 minutes — 5th place overall!!
Best of all, as donations continue to come in, Team Hydro has already raised almost $44,000 in 2017! We thank every one of our swimmers, donors, and on-land supporters!
THANK YOU and let’s keep working and swimming until we FUND a CURE!
If you haven’t donated yet, it’s not too late– You can easily donate here now.