Support Mihai's Swim for Romanian Children

Please join me in helping Mihai Badea raise funds for Children in Distress Romania. He will swim at Lake Powell in August to support their project for building a mountain retreat for disadvantaged children. Children in Distress is an organization with close to 35 years of experience that has helped thousands of Romanian children who were given no chance. Please help them achieve their next dream.

Here are details from CID's Executive Director, Valentina Smith:

The next big dream of Children in Distress is to build Pine View Retreat Lodge, a holiday retreat centre in the Carpathian Mountains for children with disabilities, and children whose families cannot afford a vacation. Pineview Retreat Lodge will be available to children from across Romania. It will not be a hospital, but a holiday home for play, outdoor activities, and socializing.

We have purchased a beautiful piece of property in the town of Zarnesti, in the heart of the Carpathians. There are views of the mountains and fields, and a stream runs the length of one side of the property. There is plenty of land for the lodge, a playground, a garden where the kids can plant and harvest, and a BBQ area. The architect’s plans follow traditional Romanian style with pillars and a balcony, and includes a reception area, common room, dining room, kitchen, chapel, and 10 bedrooms, en suite, to host 20 people.

Children in Distress has started fundraising for the Lodge. We raised money from the Bucharest half-marathon held in mid-May. Our next major event is in August, when Mihai Badea, one of Children in Distress’s sports’ ambassadors, will swim 130 km down the Colorado River in Lake Powell, USA. Mihai’s swim requires 60 hours, day and night. Mihai starts his swim August 11 at Bullfrog, Utah, and ends two days later at Wahweap, Arizona. The swim is one of the most difficult sporting challenges in the world. The water levels fluctuate drastically, and navigation, especially at night, is extremely difficult.

Mihai is committing any funds raised to Pine View Lodge. Mihai says, "I embraced this initiative out of a deep desire to be a voice for those who cannot help themselves. This action, it means a lot to me and I will give my best to bring it to fruition. Together we will succeed!"

For more information, visit CID Romania.