Dcn. Nick's 250-Mile Swim Challenge

200 MILES!!! Today I hit the 200 mile mark, 80% of the goal and about a week ahead of schedule. I'm increasing my workout schedule to 5 times a week in order to finish the challenge by mid-December.

Thanks to all for continued support. I'm still hoping for a last burst of donations in the last few weeks of the challenge so tell your friends and share the link.

See you at the pool!

Mid-September and I'm now up to 178 miles, just one mile ahead of schedule. Today Jeffrey Schriefer was in town to visit his parents, Jeff and Norma, and joined me in the pool. He's a trained competition swimmer but was kind enough to take it easy today. Thanks Jeffrey!

125 miles today, halfway to the final goal of 250. And at exactly the halfway point of the year; July 1 is day 183 of 366. Thanks to all who have continued to support the challenge, especially Walter Gaffield who donated $250 and Tan Ho who donated $100. Now at a little over $8K, which is slightly behind schedule but still a very generous aggregate donation to The Little Mountain School. Please keep rooting and praying, and tell your friends about this challenge by sharing the link. See you at the pool!

Just back from an awesome week of endoscopy in Guatemala, not close to the school but I was part of a team that did 117 endoscopy procedures on 79 patients at the Franciscan hospital in Obras de Hermano Pedro in Antigua. As of today I'm up to 120 swim miles, almost halfway there. No soggy pool picture today, this is me and Dr. Eduardo Mantzer doing his first endoscopy procedure.

Today I completed 117.5 miles, which is exactly two weeks ahead of schedule. Good thing, because tomorrow I leave for 9 days in Guatemala. Not to visit the Little Mountain school; I'll be working with a medical team doing endoscopy procedures at the Franciscan hospital in Antigua, Obras de San Hermano Pedro. I'll post some photos from there, and plan to resume swimming when I get back the week of June 16. For now, keep drinking Little Mountain Coffee, which also supports the school.

Happy Memorial Day weekend! Today I hit 107.5 miles, now about 1 1/2 weeks ahead of schedule.
I'd like to shout out to some recent donors, and I'll work my way backward to earlier donors to publicly thank them too. Thanks to Scott King for a generous gift, also to Dave and Laura Bernard who have been to The Little Mountain School in Guate and know what it's all about. And also Justin Arambasic, physician and Mary Queen parishioner. And to Karl Nathe and Maurisa Bautisa for their help also. Finally, a shout out to Clete Baier, my first Chief of GI, who let me do my first endoscopy as an intern! Thanks for your very generous support!

A HUNDRED MILES!
Today I completed 100 miles total distance since the first of the year. I'm now about a week ahead of schedule. I am very grateful for the financial donations and encouragement of everyone who has supported the swim challenge and The Little Mountain School. This weekend we'll be selling our top-quality Little Mountain coffee at Mary Queen after Masses, also supporting the school and free education for kids in rural Guatemala.

Another milestone: Yesterday, May 1, was one third of the year. And I'm slightly ahead of goal for swimming at 87.5 miles. Fundraising is slightly behind one third of the goal of $25K, so please tell your friends about this great opportunity to support FREE education for rural kids in Guatemala. And to those who have already donated, again let me express thanks. Your generosity is very humbling.
Today I was joined by Dcn. John Hinkel from Christ the King, who is also a member of the High Street Y. If you'd like to join me for a swim, please send an email.

Another milestone reached: yesterday, May 1, was one third of the year. And I'm slightly ahead of schedule at 87.5 miles. Fundraising is a little less than one third of the goal, so please tell your friends about the great opportunity to support FREE education for kids in rural Guatemala. And thanks for those who have already supported the challenge. I'm humbled by the generosity you have shown.
Today I ran into Dcn. John Hinkel from Christ the King who also enjoys the High Street YMCA. If you want to join me in the pool for a swim, please let me know.

Today I hit 62.5 mi. which is one quarter of the goal distance, 250 mi. On schedule since March is one quarter of the year. And thanks to recent generous donations by Matt Thomson and Steve & Pat Goodpaster, nearly at one quarter of the funding goal. Off tomorrow for Easter, then I'll be back in the water on Easter Monday. Happy Easter to all the donors and supporters of The Little Mountain School.

Today I hit a minor milestone, this morning I passed 100,000 yards. Actually, 101,200. Goal is 440,000 yards which sounds intimidating; but still on schedule for late March. Please forward the link to your friends or family members with a note endorsing this fundraiser; especially during Easter season it's important to remember our less fortunate brothers and sisters.

Just back from an amazing 9-day spring break mission with FOCUS to Texas, working with Catholic undergrads from around the US in faith formation and medical service. Being away has put me a few miles behind schedule in swimming, but I was at the pool this morning to make up the lost distance. Shout-out to the Mary Queen Knights of Columbus and also to Steve Hernandez for their very generous support.

Fifty miles today! Officially now at 20% of the distance goal of 250 miles, just ahead of schedule for the year. Fundraising also nearly on track, just shy of 20% of the campaign goal of $25K. Spread the word to your friends to chip in a few bucks, even a penny a mile ($25) will support education for kids in rural Guatemala!

Today I hit 40 miles, which is right on schedule for the year. And fundraising is almost on pace, $3904. Special shout out to Kabby Akers who donated a whopping amount that keeps the fundraising on track. Thanks to all donors, I'll keep up the pace!

Lent has started but the swimming goes on! Now at just over 31 mi. Here I am with Nate Williams, aquatics director at the High St. Y. He's keeping me honest. Anybody wants to join me for a swim, Nate is also membership director, hint hint. Thanks to all the recent donations, now just under 10% of the fundraising goal. Keep spreading the word and I'll keep swimming.

Progress Report: Today I hit 25 miles, one tenth of the total distance challenge. And today is day 36 (of 366) of the year, so right on schedule. Thanks to all who donated following announcements at this weekend's Masses, we've now hit four figures toward the goal of $25K. Spread the word, and I'll keep swimming.

I'm informed by the platform host that the bugs have been resolved, so fundraising is now resumed. If you have any problems with donating funds or posting comments, please email me directly at [email protected]. Thanks.

Fundraising Suspended on This Platform

Thanks to all the support and donations received to date. The challenge still goes on, I am still swimming and committed to the distance during 2024.

However, due to multiple issues with the Fundly platform, I am suspending fundraising through this web page at this time. If you would like to support or post a comment, please do so. But please do not make further donations until the issues can be resolved or I can migrate to another funding host platform.

Those who have already donated, please be assured that your funds have been received by GEO, the US supporting non-profit for The Little Mountain School. So don't worry.

And keep those prayers coming for the kids and the school. Don't need a web hosting platform for that!

Thanks.

The first week is done. Back Friday night after an amazing week at SEEK in St. Louis, an incredible experience of the Holy Spirit. But I did not neglect the swim challenge, and got in a couple of days at a beautiful historic downtown pool that was previously the YMCA (see photo). So the tally to date is: 4 swims, 2200 yards each, total 5.0 miles.

Thanks for the support so far, almost at 2% of the fundraising goal. Today I'm posting my first official swim on the challenge: 2200 yards, 1.25 miles. Just need to do that 199 more times this year!
Actually, I'm now on the bus to the SEEK meeting in St. Louis today, so no chance to swim. Invoking the liturgical principle that the vigil counts, the first swim was yesterday, New Year's Eve. Can't afford to fall behind out of the gate.
The challenge is underway, please forward to your friends and let's get some momentum going! Happy New Year.