Over and Out
28 October 2018You Did It!
We dit it! We as a group raised $30,150 for Mercy Hospice. From the bottom of my heart.. thank you! It really does bring tears to my eyes that a discussion between two friends in 2015 turned into this.
I remember the first time I heard Dad tell me about his promise to swim Alcatraz with Dave (Wood). I honestly remember thinking “who would want to put themselves through that. The cold, the distance. No thanks.” It really makes me cry to write this, and for the first time, realise our achievement. We did really achieve something amazing. I was really so caught up in the swim, the training, the fundraising, work, family and more training that I was quite blind to the purpose. And life really does get in the way of that. For all of us.
The day after the swim we had booked a tour to Sonoma Valley Vineyards. Downtime, recovery and wine. I sat next to mum on the bus and she was in tears over the swim. We both forgot that when Dad passed away, people also lost a friend. We were so consumed by losing our Dad and for Mum a soul mate. I really never thought much more than, “great there are a group of us doing the swim for Dad”.
But the truth is, there were 11 swimmers, committed to the Alcatraz swim in Dad’s honour. Plus an entire community of supporters. I need to highlight the love right now, one of the swimmers couldn’t even swim before this journey. They committed to it for Ross, read a book on swimming and then trained every day. Wow. Really. That is love. Thank you. There was also a 70 year old, a scared 16, 18 and 21 year old. Children, mothers, fathers, sisters, friends and everything in between. Mum and I realised this that day. That everyone lost Ross Duncan, not just us.
Today is the last day of the Team Rossie Givealittle Page. So this is my last update. I’ve said it before but thank you so much for being a part of our journey. Together we have achieved something beautiful. And forever we are grateful.
Signing off. Team Rossie 😘
