Follow Ellen’s Journey
Swimming Across The English Channel To Beat Parkinson’s
Follow Ellen’s Journey
Swimming Across The English Channel To Beat Parkinson’s
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COUNTDOWN
21+ miles of solo swimming in the choppy waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Latest Observations from Sandettie
29 June 2024, 8am
– Air Temperature: 15.2°C (59.4°F)
– Sea Temperature: 15.5°C (59.9°F)
– Wind Direction: W (270°)
– Wind Speed: 4 Knots
– Wave Height: 0.2 Metres
– Wave Period: 5.0 Seconds
Follow me as I swim across the English Channel in the summer of 2024
Many people have completed “The Everest” of swimming by traversing the 21 mile channel from England to France through choppy waves, jellyfish, and frigid water. However, my greatest challenge will be overcoming the effects of my Parkinson’s Disease during the 15 -20 hour swim. Please help me raise awareness and funds to find a cure for this progressive, neurological disease.
Why? Why inflict pain, deplete your life savings, risk death, and freeze in the Atlantic Ocean?
I am a Mom …
For the last 21 years, my son and my little family have been my numero uno. My son’s water polo, school, and piano took all of our resources (if you know me, you already know that). Now that he is independent, the script is flipped and I am no longer the caretaker. In contrast, I will need my friends and family to help me reach my dream. I didn’t make my goal easy, but as Teddy Roosevelt said, “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty.”
I am a Teacher…
For more than three decades, I have been a tutor or teacher of some sort. Currently, I teach reading in the Juvenile Court Schools. I believe in the power of stories. I will have a story to tell my students! Also, I want to model healthy stress reduction and resiliency.
I am a Swimmer…
My parents built a swimming pool at our house in Chula Vista the year I was born. I remember living in the water. My storied (not really) Swim team career started when I was around 7 or 8. I grew up on the beach and participated in the La Jolla Rough Water, Tugs Biathlon, Coronado Rough Water, etc. I swam at CVAA in Chula Vista and briefly at Heartland Aquatics. My best events were the 800 meters and the mile. I made the Jr. Nationals in the 800 and the 800 meter relay. However, I opted out of college aquatics and I’ve always regretted it. Regret is a funny thing, it might make you try something crazy, like swimming the English Channel after you’ve been diagnosed with an incurable, progressive disease!
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The lifeguard towers are in their off-season huddle. The fog made the surface of the world disappear, but beneath the clear saltwater, fish bubble, and leopard sharks swirl.
If I had a mansion, I would give Parkinson’s one room, maybe a porch or a closet, all of the other rooms are for the rest of me. None of us are just one thing: our worst mistake, the disease we’re fighting, the job we do, or the color of our skin.
When Parkinson’s starts moving into my kitchen, the office, and other rooms, I’m going to send it away like a pesky fly. Shoo!
What rooms do you reserve in the house of your soul? Who lives there? Where do you spend your time? ❤️🌊
After today’s MJFF Parkinson’s IQ+YOU event, I’m pumped up to beat Parkinson’s. I met American Ninja Warrior, Jimmy Choi; he’s an advocate for the only proven “medicine” to prevent the progression of PD: exercise!
Swipe left to see how you (non-parkies) can help fight Parkinson’s by participating in “the smell test.” @teamfoxmjff #parkinsonswarrior
Today the ocean was choppy and angry like a mother carrying too many groceries in a hurry. She splashed me in the face and reminded me of who’s in charge.
There are dark shadows in the shallow sand swirling below like a predator that can consume you at will.
The surface was choppy for swimmers, but the divers weighed themselves down into the calm to explore the clams, anemones, octopuses, and other sea creatures.
Bait balls of anchovies flashed their silver underbellies like illusive jewelry tempting the pelicans with their built in fish scoops.
The water is too warm. There’s hardly any kelp in the swim lane. Pieces of styrofoam float alongside unattached eel grass. This is the shadow, this is the threat, that will consume us. 🌎
Although San Diego is experiencing an intense heat wave, summer is over for me because today was the La Jolla Cove Swim (formerly called the La Jolla Rough Water). I swam in this event 46 years ago!
My goals were not lofty: no lifeguard rescue and finish before the cut off time.
I did “the whole enchilada” which is a 3 mile swim followed by a 1 mile race.
Parkinson’s requires that I leave my ego at home because, as much as I swim, I am getting slower and slower. I have to be okay with giving my best without doing my best times. Sprinting (or inability to sprint) means something different for me. But, I dove in, and swam in the incredibly warm ocean and spent time with friends and family, so that’s a win for me.
Time has passed so quickly, I can hardly keep up. Sam @sdlc6 swam in this event before he started water polo and now his coaches’ kids @dan_way8 are swimming in the @lajollacoveswim and Sam 💛is calling to check on me whilst going to Trader Joe’s to buy his own groceries (he’s adulting for reals!!)
#swimmingtobeatparkinsons
In the world of non-competitive swimming, today was outstanding! After days and days of murky swimming, the visibility arrived! Beneath the surface we saw perch, Sargo, bat rays, leopard sharks, Garibaldi, Tope sharks, and the TURTLE! We are making the asl sign for turtle (we think!?) #swimmingtobeatparkinsons #swimmingforjoy #teamfoxmjff
