There is something very cool happening in the waters around St. John today. Jeff Miller, a resident and employee of the Virgin Islands National Park, is swimming around the entire island of St. John in an effort to raise funds for Team River Runner and the St. John Cancer Fund. Here are the details straight from Jeff’s Facebook page.
My goal is to swim around St. John, about 23 miles, in one day (just a suit and goggles, no mask/fins/snorkel) and in doing so, complete a personal goal, and also raise money and awareness for two charities that are very important to me: Team River Runner and the St. John Cancer Fund. I plan to attempt this swim before the middle of October, 2016. (Jeff is completing this today, September 24.)
I have worked in marine science for over 30 years. I’ve logged nearly 7000 dives and I’ve seen amazing things in the water; whales, dolphins, sharks, manta rays, seahorses, coral reefs and tropical fish. But one of the most amazing things I’ve seen was not during a dive, but during the annual Beach to Beach Power Swim sponsored by the Friends of VI National Park here on St. John. In 2015, I stood with many others in amazement as Timothy Payne, one of the Team River Runner (TRR) veterans, without the use of his legs, swam the 3.5 mile long course! Since that time, I’ve met more of the TRR vets and I am amazed by their energy and outlook. I’d like to help more of these amazing veterans travel to and experience the beauty and people of St. John.
Additionally, like many of you, my life has been affected by loved-ones with cancer. Funds raised and administered by the St. John Cancer Fund go directly to help those in this island community who are battling cancer. Please consider helping me, help them.
All the fundswill be split between the Team River Runner and the St. John Cancer Fund. The challenge I face in swimming around St. John is significant, but I find tremendous motivation and energy while swimming believing that I can be helping those with Team River Runner and those assisted by the St. John Cancer Fund.
How amazing is that??!!
As of 8:30 a.m., Jeff swam all the way from Cruz Bay past LeDuck Island. You can follow his progress over on the VI National Park’s Facebook page. He has a tracker on him, but unfortunately it does not appear to be working.
As of this morning, Jeff has raised just under $5,000. Amazing. Click here to check out his fundraising page.
Mr. Miller must be one heck of a swimmer. He even looks like a cross between a barracuda and a gibbon. Good luck to him and enjoy the swim.