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
Follow Along On My Journal
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!
