It's three miles across the Hudson up here. Starting early Sunday morning, 305 swimmers waded out into the river on the west bank in Nyack and started their long swim to the other side in Sleepy Hollow. They were all ages, all abilities, all inspired to swim for different reasons- including many who survived blood cancer first and one remarkable man from Peru who lost an arm, a leg and an eye to a landmine accident. And goodness, the air was cold.

Click on the image to get an idea of how far away that shore is.

Over twenty power boats, the Coast Guard, community water rescue boats, 90 kayaks and several jetski's with rescue sleds did their best to shepherd them across. It's a challenge to swim the course with the currents, the wind and the distance- especially when it's so cold. For 10 years now, Andy has volunteered as the safety committee captain and coincidentally (though not really), Mo is a brand new campaign coordinator for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. This was her first event in her new job- to organize, train and assist 20 swimmers fundraising and swimming for LLS.

Everyone made it across the river. The smiles, tears and hugs at the finish are so moving. I can't get past the enormity of that challenge.