5-day swim ends with relief, satisfaction

100-mile feat on Champlain Canal, Hudson River raises awareness and money for autism

By SCOTT WALDMAN, Staff writer, Albany Times Union

First published: Monday, July 23, 2007

ALBANY -- What does it feel like to swim miles of the Hudson River? To Dave Vessie, surprisingly, it was pollution-free.

"It's a lot cleaner than I expected," Vessie said. "It tastes like fresh water."

Vessie, wearing a flowered cap, was one of eight local residents who swam 110 miles of the Champlain Canal and the Hudson River for five days to raise awareness for the region's autism resources for children.

The second annual Swim the Canal for Children's Mental Health started Wednesday at Lake Champlain. It ended Sunday at the Corning Preserve when the group swam to the Riverfront Grill and Bar at the Corning Preserve escorted by two kayaks and the boat Forever Young.

The group swam for 10 to 12 hours a day, taking turns swimming about a mile at a time. They each averaged five miles a day.

They prepared for the journey by swimming 3,500 yards a day, from two to five days a week. They were trained by 51-year-old Dan Wall, a former coach who has been a competitive swimmer since he was 7.

Last year, the swimmers raised $6,000, organizer Steve Kirk said. This year, they have already raised more than $2,500 with more expected. During this year's swim, a boat pulled up to the escort boat and donated $100.

The money raised by the group will be used to support services at the University at Albany's Center for Autism and Related Disabilities and Four Winds Hospital in Saratoga. The primary goal of the swim is to raise awareness that such resources exist in the Capital Region, Kirk said.

The swim is sponsored by the Upstate New York Chapter of the National Football League Alumni Association.

Kirk said this year's swim was easier than the one last year because they had trained more thoroughly. He said they ate while resting between shifts on the boat and that they camped out at night.

Swimmer Cheryl Mugno, 49, said jumping into the water before a swim each time was the hardest part.

"You're like 'I'm going in, I can do this, I can do this,"' Mugno said.