It was dreary, overcast and it nearly looked like it might drizzle when forty-four swimmers gathered at 6:45 a.m. for the 2024 Annual Pancreatic Swim fund raiser on Saturday morning. However, the atmosphere was festive, very festive, with swimmers chatting and welcoming swimmers who had made the trek to Avalon for the event.
When asked why they come all this distance for the swim the common response was, “Fun event, great cause, beautiful swimming conditions.” The majority of the swimmers swam the 2.2-mile round-trip swim to Frog Rock. There was no wind, very little current and the sea was as smooth as glass. The water temp was about 67°F, a temperature that gets you hustling. No lounging around! Times varied greatly from a speedy fifty-five minutes to ninety-eight minutes. Some swimmers wore wet suits and some just bathing suits. Some used fins, masks and snorkels and others, goggles.
The commonality amongst the swimmers was that they all had fun. After the swim there was, as usual, a huge pot-luck breakfast for swimmers and their friends that replaced any expended calories and then some. Catalina Cookie Company donated coffee and breakfast treats. Xterra wetsuits donated swim gear bags.
The swim raised about $4,000 for PANCAN.ORG. It is not too late to donate to the cause at PANCAN.ORG where your donation can be tagged to “in memory of Catalina Swim.”
This 2024 swim was the eighth Pancreatic swim hosted by Catalina Island Swim Club in memory of Richard Klenmana, past nurse at our Avalon Hospital. This swim is always held on the third Saturday of September, Catalina Art Festival weekend.
Catalina Swim Clubs meets every day of the year, 7 a.m. weekdays and 7:30 a.m. weekends and holidays. All levels of swimmers are welcome.
