Dr. Larry Grogin’s goal to swim 48 hours straight in an Endless Pool to raise money for The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp was lofty.
But Dr. Grogin—with the help of 90 fellow swimmers and his band of ‘Grogin’s Heroes’—accomplished the feat to raise over $8,000 in support of the camp that provides children with serious illnesses a place ‘where a kid can simply be a kid.’
The Swim-A-Thon was a resounding success.
"It was an inspiring atmosphere,” said Grogin. “I had the Endless Pool here at home and I thought it would be a cool way to get people involved in fundraising.”
/f/76838/320x198/13d8008078/jwoswsnqwun2qfc740bx.jpg "an indoor, in-ground Endless Pools swimming machine")
Grogin, who swam between five and six of the 48 hours himself, was impressed by the pool’s ability to keep pace for the two-day event.
A chiropractor and acupuncturist from North Jersey, the doctor has long been a proponent of aquatic therapy and water exercise.
“My patients swim, walk in the water and use it for different types of movement. I modify the use of the pool to meet their needs.”
Grogin himself trains in the Endless Pool for traditional triathlons and plans to use his pool to prepare for the Norseman, an “extreme triathlon” in 2013.
Rather than train simply to achieve personal goals, however, Grogin believes in giving back and making a difference for others.
The doctor and his wife, who both volunteer at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, decided that swimming against the Endless Pool swim current would provide a particularly unique ‘stationary’ fundraiser as compared to running or biking.
The Connecticut-based camp, started by actor Paul Newman, touches thousands of lives each year, truly making a difference for seriously ill children.
With a philanthropic mindset and an energetic spirit, Grogin showed what can be done with an outside-the-box approach and the involvement of a community.
He hopes to see the Swim-A-Thon grow in year two.
While Hurricane Sandy threw a wrench in the planning phase, Grogin was pleased with the results of the inaugural event. Next year, his goal is to raise $50,000, and several local swim clubs have already pledged to take their turn in the Endless Pool.
Dr. Grogin’s dedication to swimming and water exercise has not only changed the lives of many patients, but the lives of children as well.
ABOUT THE HOLE IN THE WALL GANG CAMP:
Founded in 1988 by Paul Newman, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is a community dedicated to providing “a different kind of healing” to children and their families coping with cancer, sickle cell anemia and other serious illnesses. Through summer sessions and family weekend programs at the Camp in Ashford, Connecticut, and year-round outreach to hospitals and clinics throughout the Northeast, the Camp serves more than 20,000 children and family members annually. All services are free of charge.
For more information, visit https://www.holeinthewallgang.org
ABOUT ENDLESS POOLS:
Endless Pools, established in 1988, has served over 20,000 customers in over 80 countries, and offers compact, customizable pools for indoor or outdoor use. With a series of six innovative products and an adjustable, revolutionary swim current, the product can be tailored for exercise, competitive training, or family fun. Rigorously tested for safety, low-maintenance and environmentally friendly, Endless Pools has a product to meet virtually any need.