2017 English Channel swim

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Mexico's "Swim for Your Heart" 2014 Event

Mexico's "Swim for Your Heart" event had 21,000 swimmers participating to bring an awareness of heart disease and prevention. The sport of swimming was emphasized to help promote a heart healthy lifestyle. Over 100 nurses were at 79 pool locations throughout Mexico that included 24 public pools, 15 private clubs and 40 Sport City pools. They provided free blood pressure screening and gave handouts on heart disease prevention to all participants.  They are to be applauded for their effort and dedication.  This event received support from the local government of Mexico City, and from Mexico's federal government and private sector.  The Mexico Heart Foundation was the recipient of a donation from this event.   Many open water swimmers supported this cause along with Antonio Arguelles, Mariel Hawley Davila, Nora Toledano.  A large press conference was held at Sport City Fitness Center. The room was filled with reporters from several newspapers, radio, and television stations. Also, local celebrity athletes were there to promote this event.   Local and state dignitaries spoke about the importance of physical exercise especially swimming to keep the heart healthy, including Dr. Hermes Liarraza from the National Institute of Cardiology. Many community businesses supported this event. I would like to thank all the swimmers, community leaders, local and state dignitaries, businesses for their support in this worthy cause.  A special thank you to Antonio Arguelles who was one of the main organizers.  His passion to bring awareness of heart disease prevention by promoting swimming to his country is to be commended. 
  I swam in memory of my brother Robbie who died at the age of 34 from a heart attack.  He was unaware that he had heart disease.  Also, I swam in memory of Ivar Sisniega's brother who died two weeks ago in his mid-thirties from a heart attack.  Sadly, Ivar had another brother who died one year ago to the day from the same problem. 
  We need to continue to support heart programs throughout the world and to encourage people to swim as a means to stay heart healthy, and to see their health care provider to assess their blood pressures and cholesterol blood screening.  Thank you.
  

Friday, February 14, 2014

Mexico Nurse's take part in Swim for Your Heart


 Mexico's "Swim for Your Heart" was a huge success. 21,000 swimmers participated at 79 locations throughout Mexico.  Many thanks to all the nurses who provided free blood pressures and gave heart healthy pamphlets to all participants. There were over 100 nurses helping to promote heart disease awareness.  I had the pleasure of meeting the nurses above.  Their hard work and dedication was very much appreciated.  I will be posting an update on the event in a couple of days.  I will be traveling back to Maine in the next few hours. 

Thursday, February 13, 2014

2014 Swim for Your Heart

On February 14, 2014 swimmers worldwide will join in thought and action to bring an awareness of heart disease prevention. It is a great honor for me to be here in Mexico City to help promote their event.  As of today,  20,000 swimmers have registered to swim 1 Km for their heart. It will be the largest global swim event promoting the benefits of swimming to prevent heart disease. I would like to thank Antonio Arguelles for his amazing dedication and hard work to educate and promote wellness in his country.  Also, I would like to thank Paul Smith of Grupo Marti, Pablo Kuri Morales the Undersecretary of Health, Prevention, and Promotion, and Hilda Davila Chavez the Director General of International Relations for meeting with me today.  They are working very hard to promote a healthy lifestyle in Mexico. It was a great honor for me to meet them.  I appreciate their support for the event Swim for Your Heart.  Also, I would like to thank Sport City for their involvement and the many other organizations that have worked very hard to make this event so special.  And lastly, I thought of my brother Robbie today.  He died unexpectedly of a heart attack at the age 34.  He was unaware that he had heart disease. On February 14, I will be swimming in his memory and I will make a donation to my favorite heart charity as a tribute to him.  I hope you will join me and make a donation to YOUR favorite heart charity in memory of your loved one.  Thank you.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Swim for Your Heart....in Mexico

In Mexico, swimmers throughout the country will be going for a swim on Friday, February 14 to bring an awareness of heart disease and its prevention.  Swimming is known to be one of the very best exercise for cardiac wellness. My friend and marathon swimmer Antonio Arguelles of Mexico has organized a large event promoting swimming for the benefit of a healthy heart.  I applaud his dedication and hard work in organizing "Swim for Your Heart".  Antonio invited me to visit him and all the swimmers in Mexico City.  I accepted his wonderful invitation.  I will be meeting him on Thursday for a swim at Sport City Coyoacan, Mexico.  Sport City has been one of the major supporters of this event.  They have shown a strong commitment to bring attention to cardiac wellness in their country. They are leading the way on the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.  Also, Antonio has arranged a meeting with Miguel Angel Mancera, Mayor of Mexico City; Pablo Kuri Morales, Undersecretary of Health Prevention and Promotion, and Paul Smith the CEO of Grupo Marti.  It will be a great honor for me to meet these distinguished dignitaries.  Also, to promote the event in Mexico, a radio interview with Pablo Carrillo will take place on Thursday to help promote the event.
   I am inviting swimmers throughout the world to join us in thought and action by going for a swim on February 14 in your country and send a donation to your favorite heart charity.  "Swim for Your Heart" is a global swim event to bring an awareness of the benefits of swimming for heart health and to promote heart disease prevention.  Thank you.