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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (September
4, 2007)
Dreyer's Dire Straits
Jim Dreyer Attempts to Swim 50 Miles Crossing the Straits of Mackinac
(St. Ignace,
Michigan) Great Lakes Swimmer Jim Dreyer announced today his plans
to swim 50 miles crossing the Straits of Mackinac, in celebration of the
Mackinac Bridge’s 50th anniversary. It will take 12 consecutive crossings
of the often-turbulent straits that connect lakes Michigan and Huron to
log that distance. If successful, he will break the distance record he set
for the Straits of Mackinac in 2006 when he swam 40 miles. Dreyer plans to
begin and finish his quest at the foot of the Mackinac Bridge in Mackinaw
City, Michigan, during the most favorable projected period of weather
between September 5th and the 9th. Dreyer’s website (www.SwimJimSwim.org)
will announce the starting date and time once it is known.
Dreyer’s personal contribution to the Mackinac Bridge’s 50th anniversary
celebration, entitled the Mighty Mac 50/50, will have him swimming
in the shadow of the famous landmark completed in 1957 to span the Straits
of Mackinac, and connect Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas. His swim
comes on the heels of yesterday’s historic Mighty Mac 50th Anniversary
Swim. In that event, Dreyer assembled a team of 50 swimmers to
celebrate the Bridge’s golden anniversary by swimming across the 4-mile
Straits of Mackinac, in conjunction with the annual Labor Day Bridge Run &
Walk. Both events are fundraisers for Mentor Michigan, an umbrella
organization to further the mission of nearly 200 member youth-mentoring
organizations across the state of Michigan.
“A lot of history is being attempted in celebration of this 50th milestone
for the engineering marvel that is the Mackinac Bridge,” Dreyer said.
“Prior to 50 swimmers entering the water all at once on Labor Day, there
had not been 50 swimmers in history who have crossed the Straits of
Mackinac … and of course, no one has ever swum 50 miles here in these
currents, as I hope to do.” Dreyer added, “While it’s a thrill to capture
a moment in time and be a part of history, the best part is that it is the
kids who will lead us for the next 50 years that are really benefiting
from all of this!”
Drawing from the experience of last summer’s 40-mile / 50-hour record swim
in these straits , Dreyer is mindful that the ever-changing intensity of
the cross currents can become overwhelming. After battling a current that
was much more powerful than expected for 50 hours, he found himself
hospitalized. “I was having heart issues triggered by nutritional
miscalculations, I was hypothermic, and I really did a number on my left
shoulder. While I believe I will be successful in this attempt to swim 50
miles, I may be a little more relaxed with my ‘never quit’ mantra this one
time if the currents get as dangerous as they were last year. I have too
much at stake with my Swim to the Seaway event coming up next year.”
In April, Dreyer announced that starting in June of 2008 he will attempt
to swim the entire 1300-mile length of the Great Lakes basin between
Duluth, Minnesota and Cape Vincent, New York. He will be self-sufficient
in his quest, towing the weight of his supplies on a journey estimated to
take four months. Swim to the Seaway is planned to be the subject of a
documentary film or multi-part mini series.
Contributions to support Mentor Michigan in honor of Jim Dreyer’s
Mighty Mac 50/50 may be made online at Dreyer’s website (www.SwimJimSwim.org).
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