WHAT IS THIS?

The Great Chesapeake Bay Swim (GCBS) is a 4.4 mile swim across Maryland's Chesapeake Bay and a major fundraising event for the March of Dimes. The swim starts at Sandy Point State Park on the beach, and ends on a small, sandy corner on Kent Island on the Eastern Shore. The course is designed to follow the bridge spans of the William Preston Lane Jr., Memorial Bridge (highway 50). It is one of the most sought after open water swims in the US.

WHY DO I SWIM?

Since 2005, I have been participating in the March of Dimes' Great Chesapeake Bay Swim, minus a year here or there due to life's curve balls that we all tend to see. This summer will be my 10th crossing of the bay and 10th and final year of raising money to benefit the Maryland Chapter of the March of Dimes to aid in its campaign for healthier babies. With my 10th crossing I will be eligible for a longevity award, but most importantly to me, I am poised to surpass my goal of $50,000 total over the years.

MY INSPIRATION...

In 2004, my wife and I found out we were having twins...conjoined twins. No hospital gave them, or us, any hope. We finally found a team of doctors who wanted to give God a chance. By the grace of God, they were the first set of conjoined twins born alive and delivered by Dr. Michelle Kush at Baltimore's University of Maryland Hospital on June 15. At one month of age, pediatric surgeon Dr. Eric Strauch separated Grace and Hope in a 19 hour surgery that resulted in a successful separation. Living at the Ronald McDonald house for 6 months, we became very close to many doctors and nurses during our stay. Unfortunately, being in the hospital that long and with all the ups and downs with their health, Grace and Hope left our world a week apart...Dec 12th and 19th. Two years later, we were blessed with a baby boy, and named him after Dr. Eric Strauch. Linkoln Eric Gundacker was delivered by Dr. Michelle Kush and is a strong, healthy young man about to graduate high school this year.

One way we celebrate them...

The summer after they passed, I signed up for the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim not knowing what it would turn into. The GCBS is always the 2nd Sunday in June and falls on the week of Grace and Hope's birthday. This June they would be 20 years old. Raising money is always difficult for me to do. I don't like asking for money, which is why a few years, it was always a last minute decision. Not raising money is a worse feeling because the generosity I receive each year is very humbling but exciting at the same time. It's just one small way I can give back. We were told they would not survive the pregnancy, and definitely not their first day if they did survive the pregnancy. We prayed for 5 minutes, and were blessed with 6 months. In my mind, raising money for the March of Dimes will provide other families the same care that we received from the University of Maryland Hospital.

MY HISTORY (It's easier to swim across!)

Years 1-4 (2005-2008), I swam the 1 mile event qualifying for the 4.4 every year. To celebrate their 5th birthday (2009), I swam across the bay for the first time and started my fundraising career. The following year I went back to the 1 mile event because my mile time was so much faster. I went all out, and missed 3rd place by 30 seconds. That was the first time I thought, "it's easier to swim across the bay!". In 2011-2018, I crossed every year except one (Lyme disease), raised money and was top fundraiser for many years. 2019 was to be my 9th crossing and my 10th crossing (2020) lining up with Grace and Hopes 16th birthday. It was my original target for 10 crossings - 16 birthday celebration - and $50,000 raised. A house fire and a two year shutdown of the GCBS thwarted those plans. In 2022, the GCBS opened back up and I signed up to be a kayaker and in water support for the swimmers. Paddling across the bay to meet up with the start of the race, I was overturned and had to self rescue myself back into my kayak after being stuck upside down in my spray skirt holding my breath. After reaching Sandy Point and fighting back sea sickness I was unable to volunteer. That was the second time I thought, "'its easier to swim across!". So, here we are. Last year (2023) I resumed training and raised money to meet my goal. I raised over $4000 in one month, placing me within reach of $50,000 for my 10th crossing and Grace and Hope's 20th birthday.

This will be my final year raising money and will "retire" as I pass $50,000 this summer. Moving forward, I plan to volunteer in some way at this event, as it has been a huge part of our lives. Thank you for you love and support over the years and thank you for coming along side me for one more year!