Strong Together – Even Apart With Phil White At The Virtual Winter Swim

Courtesy of Phil White, Lake Memphremagog, Vermont.

Phil White addresses the unprecedented coronavirus lockdowns with the creativity and camaraderie that he is known for.

He explains about his Virtual Winter Swim, “In these grimmest of times, we have decided that our Memphremagog Winter Swim Festival needs to go virtual. Although vaccines will be becoming available shortly, it will be too soon for them to have their widespread and desired effect. But, by July, we see the Cloud of Covid lifting from the land, and we are hard at it planning the parade and parties at Kingdom Swim …. and straight ahead: a robust season of open water swimming, running, and biking in the Kingdom.

Members of our Society of Memphremagog Winter Swimmers are family. And, families don’t let families fall apart. We Zoom. We tap to one another on our prison walls. We do what we can with what we’ve got to stay together, even apart.

Our Virtual Winter Swim will include a Hat Competition, a Ribbon Ceremony, and a Jammie and Vodka Shooter Zoom Party that raises funds for The Halo Foundation. The entry fee is US $35. Each swimmer (volunteers are welcome to participate) will get a Memphremagog Winter Swim Festival cap, a patch, a bumper sticker, and a ribbon to be used to honor a friend or family member who has battled cancer or some other harsh disease. After covering our costs, all net proceeds will be directed to our local Halo Foundation. We are a rural, economically challenged area. Even travel expenses for treatment can be huge and even prohibitive. Halo helps local patients and families with uncovered costs of the battle.“

Participants can select any day between February 20th and February 27th 2021 in any venue (saltwater, freshwater, ice, high-altitude swims in a pod or solo along with an observer.

If in pods, participants expect to use masks and remain socially distanced. If the Hat Competition, White wants swimmers to display their hats in their photos. A Ribbon Ceremony to honor those with cancer who have died, who are in the battle, or who have survived, and those facing huge health challenges in The Age of Covid is concurrently held. If swimmers want extra ribbons, White will send them for an additional donation of US$5 per ribbon. The Zoom Jammie and Vodka Shooter Party is held on February 27th 2021, with selection of the best hats and jammies. Special Prizes will be mailed to the winners.

For more information, visit www.kingdomgames.co. Registration is posted here.

Copyright © 2008 – 2018 by World Open Water Swimming Association