While the Art Festival is gearing up, a group of swimmers will also be getting ready to take a dip for a good cause. On Sept. 21, Catalina Island Swim Club will be hosting its third annual Swim for Pancreatic Cancer, which will take place at Casino Point starting at 7 a.m.
The event raises money for Pan Can, an organization dedicated to the treatment and prevention of pancreatic cancer. Swimmers can choose what distance they want to swim and the suggested entrance donation is $35. However, participants are encouraged to get pledges to help boost the money raised. Last year the event raised approximately $4,500. There are four swim distances available for swimmers to tackle.
Last year approximately 18 swimmers took on the 2.2 mile distance swim, from Casino Point to Frog Rock and back, with times ranging from 59 minutes to two hours. Don’t want to tackle 2.2 miles? Try the 1.0 mile round trip swim to Hamilton Cove Pier and back or the half-mile swim to Descanso Beach and back.
Or, if you just want to participate, but don’t want to go too far, join the 0.0 mile “Get Wet” plunge. However far you decide to go, there are no restrictions, any and all swim gear is permissible, swim fins, masks, snorkels, whatever participants need to make it a leisurely swim.
What started as a celebration swim for a club members birthday eventually turned into a swim for a cause, that also happens to be a morning of fun. “The swim has turned out to be a festive event,” Organizer Charlie Canby said.
Signups will begin at 7 a.m. with the swims scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. There will be refreshments; fruit, drinks breakfast treats and other items for swimmers and volunteers. At 8 a.m. there will be a dog competition for best/furthest swimmer and best ball retrieval.
For more information, contact Charlie Canby (310-809-0661), Claudia Canby (310-809-0629) or Santa Dominguez (619-886-0497) by phone or text so that they can plan refreshments.
One of the event sponsors, XTERRA wet suits, has donated swim gear, back packs and other swim gear to all participants.
