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They'll swim the English Channel -- and while they're at it, they'll raise funds for Alpha-1 research
Five business executives from New York City will trade in their business suits for swim trunks as they prepare to swim across the English Channel from Dover, England to Calais, France on Aug. 24.
David Moore, Jeff Bodenmann, Steve Reiss, Richard Abramson and Steve Bookbinder have come together to form a relay swim team.
MUSCLE MEN: A slightly doctored photo of the New York City Alpha-1 Swim Team. From left, Steve Reiss, Steve Bookbinder, David Moore, Richard Abramson and Jeff Brodenmann.
It all started when these five professionals, most of whom have an athletic and competitive swimming background, decided to swim the 28 miles around Manhattan Island in 2007. Now, the team will once again take on a demanding challenge and swim the 20-mile English Channel. This time, it’s to support a cause for one of their friends.
When a friend, Ed Mikell, found out about the English Channel relay, he was struck with an idea. Mikell set up a fundraising account for the Alpha-1 Foundation’s Building Friends for a Cure Campaign, and the team will rename themselves the NYC Alpha-1 Swim Team.
“We want to educate people about Alpha-1,” said Mikell
Mikell knows the importance of early detection, family screenings and the need to raise money for research. Two of his grandchildren are happy and healthy at ages six and eight, but they were both diagnosed with Alpha-1 when they were infants.
When his youngest grandchild, Cooper Castellone, was just a few weeks old, he suffered total blockage in his liver and was diagnosed with Alpha-1. The family then tested the other two boys and found that Bryce also had Alpha-1, but his older brother Tyler did not.
Ed and Linda Mikell are doing their part to support Alpha-1 research
“While we were initially devastated, in some respects we are fortunate that Cooper was diagnosed so early,” Mikell said. “Otherwise we wouldn’t have known that two of our three grandsons had this disorder.”
Mikell now looks to his friends, family and members of his community for support. His mission is to continue providing funds through the Alpha-1 Foundation for research to help find Alpha-1 treatments and someday, a cure.
The English Channel presents a wide variety of obstacles, so the team will prepare for just about every challenge that nature throws at them. Each member will train six days a week in various weather conditions.
Mikell’s grandchildren, from left, Tyler, Cooper and Bryce Castellone
David Moore, the NYC Alpha-1 swim team leader, began competitively swimming in 2002 and has participated in numerous triathlons, including an Ironman Triathlon in 2005. Jeff Bodenmann, a lifetime competitive swimmer, has competed in the Master’s National Championships for the past five years. Richard Abramson began his swim career in high school. He represented the USA at the World Maccabiah Games in Israel in 1961 and 1965 and in world master’s competition took 5th place. He also took 7th place in the US Nationals. Steve Reiss a skier, surfer, tennis player and runner, started distance swimming last year to prepare for the swim around Manhattan. Steve Bookbinder was an active swimmer as a child and throughout college and also re-entered the sport for the Manhattan swim.
The NYC Alpha-1 Swim Team website is at www.firstgiving.com/englishchannel. Donors can click on the “sponsor me now” button at the top of the page, and select the amount they want to give.
