Diana Nyad Finishes 48-Hour Swim for Sandy Survivors

“Disaster response and recovery is a long-distance sport – you jump in and keep going until you get the job done”
Curt Welling, AmeriCares President and CEOFamed long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad finished her 48-hour swim marathon in New York City’s Herald Square shortly before 9 a.m., Thursday, October 10 with fans and Hurricane Sandy survivors cheering her on. The Nyad Swim for Relief, a test of endurance and symbol of perseverance embraced by many Sandy survivors from the tri-state area, comes on the heels of her record-breaking swim in September from Cuba to Florida.The New York event, sponsored by Procter & Gamble, kicked off a fundraising campaign that will benefit AmeriCares Hurricane Sandy Relief Program in the days leading up to the one-year anniversary of the storm. By the afternoon of the 10th, more than $107,000 had been raised online via NyadSwimforRelief.com. Proceeds from the campaign, which runs through Oct. 31, will fund AmeriCares health programs for survivors in the hardest hit areas of New York and New Jersey.Diana Nyad waves to fans before stepping out of the pool in Herald Square. Nyad swam for 48 hours straight to raise funds for AmeriCares Hurricane Sandy Relief Program. Photo by Alex Ostasiewicz/AmeriCares“Diana Nyad not only performed yet another amazing athletic feat today, but she reminded the world that we have not forgotten about Sandy survivors,” said AmeriCares President and CEO Curt Welling. “Disaster response and recovery is a long-distance sport – you jump in and keep going until you get the job done.”AmeriCares has been aiding survivors of natural disasters, political conflict and extreme poverty worldwide for more than 30 years, saving lives and restoring health and hope. AmeriCares Hurricane Sandy Relief Program focuses on restoring access to medical care and mental health services in storm-damaged communities. The program provides donated medicines and relief supplies, as well as cash grants to nonprofit organizations assisting the recovery efforts. To date, AmeriCares has provided $6.5 million in aid benefiting more than 450,000 survivors.Read More Donate Now