LB Firefighters, Police Officers & Lifeguards Make 28-Mile Relay Swim From Catalina To Long Beach In Fundraiser For Jonathan Jaques Children's Cancer Center @ Miller Children's Hospital
VIDEO and text via Dan Halverson
LBREPORT.com Community Correspondent
(Oct. 4, 2014, 7:24 p.m.) -- As carried LIVE on LBREPORT.com (via Dan Halverson/WebcastLongBeach.com), a team of Long Beach firefighters, police officers and lifeguards successfully completed a 28-mile relay swim from Catalina to Long Beach in a fundraiser to benefit the Jonathan Jaques Children's Cancer Center at Miller Children's Hospital.
LBREPORT.com has on-demand VIDEO coverage below as sent by Dan Halverson (WebCastLongBeach.com), plus photo screen saves below.
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Thirty swimmers took part, along with fifteen paddlers and five teams. Each swimmer swam thirty-minute legs with paddlers next to them. Six boats also took part.
The participants left Long Beach at about 3 p.m. Friday (Oct. 3) and began the swim at 9:17 p.m. from the Catalina beach at Goat Cove. Roughly 42,387 strokes later, they arrived at 10 a.m. to a rousing welcome at Alamitos Bay.
For on-demand VIDEO of Mr. Halverson's coverage as seen LIVE, click the link below.
It's the second annual charitable swim challenge. This year's coordinator was Austin Anderson from LBFD Station 10.
Mr. Halverson was aboard the Boston Whaler, owned by Lenny Arkinstall of the Los Cerritos Wetland Stewards (nonprofit whose mission is the long-term protection and enhancement of the Los Cerritos Wetlands), allowing him to send LIVE video from the water.
His skipper was Rob Webb, retired LB 8th district Councilman, now Yacht Sales Professional with Flying Cloud Yachts. Mr. Webb operated the vessel as a volunteer for the Long Beach Aquatic Capital of America Foundation.
Webcast screen save
Mr. Halverson credits John Callos with the Long Beach Aquatic Capital of America Foundation for an instrumental role in making it possible to provide LIVE VIDEO coverage from the water.
Miller Children's Hospital says funds raised will benefit research projects that improve diagnosis, treatment and prevention of childhood cancers and blood-related disorders at the Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center (JJCCC).
The event caps Childhood Cancer Awareness Month events and fundraising efforts at Miller Children's Hospital.
"The Center is known for its comprehensive psychosocial programs and multi-disciplinary approach to patient care," its release says. "JJCCC improves outcomes, prevents complications and enhances the quality of life for children with cancer and serious blood disorders by integrating new clinical research efforts into treatment plans."
