This will be my 4th year participating in this event. The first unofficial year there were 35 of us swimming across Newfound Lake and last year the event drew several thousand people; wow how this has grown! This year’s event had to be converted to “virtual” due to social distancing and the current COVID crisis.  A small group of us are going to swim the actual Newfound Lake course in July and share the experience via Social Media. 

This year’s event has swimmers paired with NH veterans that lost their lives in service to our country. I have the honor of being paired with Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Daniel R. Healy from Exeter NH - https://www.fallenheroesproject.org/united-states/daniel-richard-healy/

https://www.runforthefallennh.com/navy-seal-scpo-daniel-r-healy.html

There is a bottomless pit of need in the veteran community, and the more I see and learn sometimes overwhelms me.  The sacrifices that these brave men and women and their families have made motivates me to stay involved and do all I can to help.

https://www.swimwithamission.org/charities/

The 4th Annual Swim With A Mission, an Open Water Swim Race and Festival was scheduled for Saturday, July 11th at Wellington State Park in Bristol NH. Unfortunately due to COVID-19 we have shifted our event to a Virtual Event. We would much rather have our live event and are disappointed about the change but we know that it is necessary at this point. Even in these tough times, we hope you will help us stay true to our mission to raise money to help Veterans and inspire others to help.

Virtual Events are open to everyone and will take place from July 1-31. Participants can choose to swim (1K, 5K or 10K), paddle (1K, 5K or 10K) or take on the SEAL Team NH Challenge. All participants are encouraged to raise funds that will go to our Veterans who need our help more than ever. Swimmers can also choose to swim more than once during the month of July and they will be able to record distances and times. Go to www.swimwithamission.org for more details.

Since our formation in 2017, we have donated over $8 million to honor and support local, regional and national veteran support organizations that provide critical services to our Veterans. These include supporting Veteran organizations that provide housing, take care of our homeless, support day to day services, provide service and support K-9’s,  scholarships, jobs, create equine immersion programs and support art programs. Please explore www.swam.org to get more details about how you can get involved with us and our mission.

• anonymous donated $500.00 June 24, 2020 ... "Great cause, thanks for continuuing your efforts. You owe me a beer!"
• anonymous donated $250.00 June 24, 2020 ... "Great Job Jim... good luck... watch out for the sharks... we hear some may have made their way up from the Cape :) "
• Margaret Lally donated $100.00 July 2, 2020 ... "Good luck and get home safe!"
• DeJon Family donated $100.00 July 1, 2020 ... "Jim you're amazing, keep up the great work. "
• Tim Wolf donated $100.00 June 27, 2020 ... "Good Luck Jim!"
• Bill Nicotina donated $100.00 June 24, 2020
• Pat Kalik donated $100.00 June 24, 2020 ... "Thanks for doing this Jim "
• John and Barb Hawkins donated $100.00 May 30, 2020 ... "What a worthy fundraiser! Go Jim! Thanks to all Veterans!"
• Mullarky Family donated $100.00 May 30, 2020 ... "Good luck Jim, we will be cheering you on."
• Jim Graham donated $100.00 May 30, 2020 ... "Hooyah Healy family! Dan will be with me when I swim across Newfound Lake in July."
• Rod & Julie donated $75.00 June 26, 2020 ... "In honor of Daniel Healy. Thanks Jim for your dedication to this cause! "
• Elaine & Jim Graham Sr. donated $25.00 July 11, 2020 ... "Giving your all for our heroes."
• Nancy Wright & Jim Leiterman donated $25.00 May 30, 2020 ... "Thank you Jim for participating in this event and for honoring the memory of those we owe so much to."