10K Swim for Cathy's Kids
Donation protected
Dear Friends and Family,
As many of you know I have set out on a journey this year to challenge myself in a new way, both physically and mentally. Myself and my childhood friend, Shannon, have registered to swim a 10K (6.4 mile) open water swim in Cancun, Mexico. To some this may seem absolutely crazy, to others it may seem like a small task, but to me it signifies so much more than a challenging swim.
My incentives for completing this event are significant in both professional and personal aspects of my life. Initially when I registered for this race it was just about overcoming a physical obstacle and proving to myself it was something I could do. Since registering, El Cruce (meaning The Cross in Spanish), has become so much more than a personal goal. Having spent twelve of my twenty eight years of life identifying as "a swimmer" it only seemed natural to continue to include the sport in my life in some way. At age 18 I officially transitioned from a competitive swimmer, to an enthusiastic spectator for my younger brother. Watching my brother's successes felt fun and rewarding, but at the same time I knew the sport still had a great deal to offer me. Later in life I found what I was looking for in a coaching job at North Andover High School. Taking on the assistant coaching position at the high school has changed my life and reconnected me with a sport I have always had a deep passion for. While coaching for NAHS I have been given many more opportunities to help advance my coaching career; the most significant being a new position as an assistant coach for the Andover-North Andover YMCA Hurricanes Swim Team. In this position I have had the good fortune of working with some extremely talented swimmers. In many of the teenagers I have found myself to be somewhat of a mentor for them. One question I am asked constantly is, "What is life like after club swimming?". When I look back to my 16 year-old self I wonder why I hadn't asked that question, and I wonder even if I had, would anyone have been able to answer it? My story, and this race, allows me to answer this question for my swimmers. I didn't go on to college to swim in the NCAA, I didn't win any championships, I never broke a single record, and I never won an award as a competitive swimmer. As a coach I have found a way to turn all of those "didn't's" into motivation for my swimmers, and it has helped me find connections with those kids who are following a similar path in their swimming careers. This race signifies the answer to their question; what can one do in the sport after life as a club swimmer? My goal is to inspire not only my swimmers, but other swimmers who are wondering how to keep the passion of the sport alive inside of them. I want to show kids struggling with their future in the sport another path and another way to succeed. Coaching is a path I had never expected to take, and distance open water swimming is an even more unexpected path for me. What I have found over the years is that the most unexpected journey's are the ones that carry the most significance in your life. I hope taking on this challenge and completing it will inspire my swimmers to continue swimming in some form, whether it is with the NCAA, for recreation, with an intramural team, a masters team, coaching, or even doing open water races.
The most significant catalyst for my participation in this race is the ability to raise money for a charity that means the most to me. A dear friend of mine, Cathy Sheehan, passed away on April 1st, 2014. Cathy was an incredible sales woman, friend, wife, and mother. I met her many years ago as a spin instructor at Latitudes Sports Club. We had an instant connection, bonded quickly, and became a part of each other's lives. Shortly after meeting Cathy at the gym I began nannying for her family. Her children, Audrey (15), Nicole (13), and Ethan (8), are the sweetest, kindest, and most gentle children I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I spent many days working on homework, teaching them swim lessons, bringing them to and from their many afternoon activities, and simply just talking about life. Over the years I learned a great deal from Cathy in all aspects of life. I spent days on end dreaming about her life and hoping I could live up to the standard that she has set forth as a wife, mother, and professional. Cathy was always passionate about getting her children involved in activities and athletics. All three of her children participated in sports like soccer, flag football, t-ball, dance, and swimming. She believed in the benefits of fitness and the happiness she saw in her children when they were participating in their respective activities. When Cathy finally lost her 11 month battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia it was a heartbreaking travesty. She dedicated her life to her family and her friends, and spent every minute of every day loving her children and her husband unconditionally. Watching someone so supremely healthy get so sick so quickly was harsh and shocking. I spent many evenings at the hospital with her watching The Bachelor, donating platelets, and simply just talking. In our many chats she shared with me her interest in starting her own charity to help less fortunate children participate in youth sports. When Cathy passed away it just made sense to set up a charity in her name that did just that. Cathy's Kids provides financial help to families that are less fortunate and cannot afford to sign their children up for local youth sports.
Without youth sports I would have never discovered my love for competitive swimming. I am doing this swim to raise money for Cathy's Kids to help provide children the same opportunities I was given at a young age. I loved Cathy, and I could not feel more inspired by her fight against cancer. The bravery and strength she had during those 11 months are colossal in comparison to physical strength it will take me to complete this race. Each day during my training I channel Cathy's courage and remind myself of how grateful I feel to have the health and strength to train and complete this race. I urge you all to consider donating to Cathy's Kids and help Cathy's memory live on by supporting her cause that she was most passionate about.
Thank you for your support.
Lizz Backler
As many of you know I have set out on a journey this year to challenge myself in a new way, both physically and mentally. Myself and my childhood friend, Shannon, have registered to swim a 10K (6.4 mile) open water swim in Cancun, Mexico. To some this may seem absolutely crazy, to others it may seem like a small task, but to me it signifies so much more than a challenging swim.
My incentives for completing this event are significant in both professional and personal aspects of my life. Initially when I registered for this race it was just about overcoming a physical obstacle and proving to myself it was something I could do. Since registering, El Cruce (meaning The Cross in Spanish), has become so much more than a personal goal. Having spent twelve of my twenty eight years of life identifying as "a swimmer" it only seemed natural to continue to include the sport in my life in some way. At age 18 I officially transitioned from a competitive swimmer, to an enthusiastic spectator for my younger brother. Watching my brother's successes felt fun and rewarding, but at the same time I knew the sport still had a great deal to offer me. Later in life I found what I was looking for in a coaching job at North Andover High School. Taking on the assistant coaching position at the high school has changed my life and reconnected me with a sport I have always had a deep passion for. While coaching for NAHS I have been given many more opportunities to help advance my coaching career; the most significant being a new position as an assistant coach for the Andover-North Andover YMCA Hurricanes Swim Team. In this position I have had the good fortune of working with some extremely talented swimmers. In many of the teenagers I have found myself to be somewhat of a mentor for them. One question I am asked constantly is, "What is life like after club swimming?". When I look back to my 16 year-old self I wonder why I hadn't asked that question, and I wonder even if I had, would anyone have been able to answer it? My story, and this race, allows me to answer this question for my swimmers. I didn't go on to college to swim in the NCAA, I didn't win any championships, I never broke a single record, and I never won an award as a competitive swimmer. As a coach I have found a way to turn all of those "didn't's" into motivation for my swimmers, and it has helped me find connections with those kids who are following a similar path in their swimming careers. This race signifies the answer to their question; what can one do in the sport after life as a club swimmer? My goal is to inspire not only my swimmers, but other swimmers who are wondering how to keep the passion of the sport alive inside of them. I want to show kids struggling with their future in the sport another path and another way to succeed. Coaching is a path I had never expected to take, and distance open water swimming is an even more unexpected path for me. What I have found over the years is that the most unexpected journey's are the ones that carry the most significance in your life. I hope taking on this challenge and completing it will inspire my swimmers to continue swimming in some form, whether it is with the NCAA, for recreation, with an intramural team, a masters team, coaching, or even doing open water races.
The most significant catalyst for my participation in this race is the ability to raise money for a charity that means the most to me. A dear friend of mine, Cathy Sheehan, passed away on April 1st, 2014. Cathy was an incredible sales woman, friend, wife, and mother. I met her many years ago as a spin instructor at Latitudes Sports Club. We had an instant connection, bonded quickly, and became a part of each other's lives. Shortly after meeting Cathy at the gym I began nannying for her family. Her children, Audrey (15), Nicole (13), and Ethan (8), are the sweetest, kindest, and most gentle children I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I spent many days working on homework, teaching them swim lessons, bringing them to and from their many afternoon activities, and simply just talking about life. Over the years I learned a great deal from Cathy in all aspects of life. I spent days on end dreaming about her life and hoping I could live up to the standard that she has set forth as a wife, mother, and professional. Cathy was always passionate about getting her children involved in activities and athletics. All three of her children participated in sports like soccer, flag football, t-ball, dance, and swimming. She believed in the benefits of fitness and the happiness she saw in her children when they were participating in their respective activities. When Cathy finally lost her 11 month battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia it was a heartbreaking travesty. She dedicated her life to her family and her friends, and spent every minute of every day loving her children and her husband unconditionally. Watching someone so supremely healthy get so sick so quickly was harsh and shocking. I spent many evenings at the hospital with her watching The Bachelor, donating platelets, and simply just talking. In our many chats she shared with me her interest in starting her own charity to help less fortunate children participate in youth sports. When Cathy passed away it just made sense to set up a charity in her name that did just that. Cathy's Kids provides financial help to families that are less fortunate and cannot afford to sign their children up for local youth sports.
Without youth sports I would have never discovered my love for competitive swimming. I am doing this swim to raise money for Cathy's Kids to help provide children the same opportunities I was given at a young age. I loved Cathy, and I could not feel more inspired by her fight against cancer. The bravery and strength she had during those 11 months are colossal in comparison to physical strength it will take me to complete this race. Each day during my training I channel Cathy's courage and remind myself of how grateful I feel to have the health and strength to train and complete this race. I urge you all to consider donating to Cathy's Kids and help Cathy's memory live on by supporting her cause that she was most passionate about.
Thank you for your support.
Lizz Backler
Organizer and beneficiary
Lizz Backler
Organizer
Newburyport, MA
Timothy Sheehan
Beneficiary
