EG Teen Readies for Save the Bay Swim

Brigid Kennedy of East Greenwich will be one of 500 swimmers and 200 kayakers crossing the Bay in the Citizens Bank Save The Bay Swim for her first time. 

Kennedy has been participating in the Buzzards Bay Swim since she was 12, but this marks the first year she is eligible to swim in the Save The Bay Swim since she turned 15 in April. 

She has been swimming since she was an infant but competitively swimming since 11-years-old. Kennedy currently swims competitively for her high school swim team and for the Rams team.

“Two of my best guy friends and I are doing the swim together for the first time”, explains Kennedy. She has been training by running and rowing competitively, and even participated in her first triathlon this past weekend. Kennedy also completed the Alcatraz Swim in California.

The Save the Bay Swim, an annual tradition since 1977 is a 1.7 mile swim that raises awareness and funds to help Save The Bay address the challenges facing the ecological health of Narragansett Bay. The Swim is the largest cross-bay fundraising swim in the country.

Kennedy said her family and most importantly, her mother, have been supporting her throughout her years swimming. Her parents and the family dog are always there to drive her for those 4:00am practices and swims.

“I want to keep doing swims. I want to keep going out there and trying new things," Kennedy said.

The 38th Citizens Bank Save The Bay Swim  will take place on July 19, 2014 at 7:00 a.m. Swimmers and kayakers will enter the water at Naval Station Newport on Coaster’s Harbor Island and travel across the East Passage to Jamestown’s Potter Cove. All are welcome to cheer on the swimmers and enjoy the post-swim event at The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority. Local vendors including Thai Cuisine, Belmont Fruit, Pranzi Catering, Whole Foods, Del’s Lemonade, Ben & Jerry’s, House of Pizza, Denali Wakefield, Green River Silver Company, Harrison & Pike and the Island Outfitters 20th Anniversary Rhode Yacht.will be on site with wares, giveaways, food, and beverages.

About The Swim: The first cross-Bay swim, held in 1977, was started as a call to action to clean up Narragansett Bay. During the first few years of the Swim, it wasn't uncommon to see swimmers emerge from the water with oil and tar balls on their skin and swimsuits. Today the annual Swim is a celebration of 38 years of progress and a reminder that much work remains to be done. The Swim is Save The Bay’s largest fundraising event and underwrites the organization’s environmental advocacy, restoration, and education programs.

The Swim is generously sponsored by Citizens Bank and many other local businesses like Amica Insurance, University Medicine, University Orthopedics and many local businesses . To register and find

out more information or support a swimmer from your town, visit www.savebay.org/swim  and “Search For A Swimmer” or follow The Swim on Twitter: @SaveTheBaySwim.