GREAT CHESAPEAKE BAY SWIM

                          Sunday, June 11, 2017

*PLEASE MAKE YOUR DONATION BY MEMORIAL DAY*



This is my first time using a fundraising platform, but I have been raising money conventionally for the MARCH OF DIMES through the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim.  I have raised $24,700 over the past 6 years with a goal to reach $30,000 total after this years fundraising. With this being my 7th time crossing the Chesapeake Bay and raising money, I have been the top fundraiser for the past 4 years, an accomplishment that I am very proud of.  

The Great Chesapeake Bay Swim is an organized event with over 600 swimmers swimming across Maryland's Chesapeake Bay, a 4.4 mile course, following the bridge spans of the William Preston Lane, Jr., Memorial Bridge (Route 50).  Money raised goes to the Maryland chapter of the March of Dimes to help aid in its campaign for healthier babies.

Grace and Hope were born on June 15, 2004.  After a long, tiresome, heartbreaking pregnancy, Grace and Hope were the first set of conjoined twins born alive at the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore.  Not expected to survive the first day, Grace and Hope miraculously blessed us not only the first day, but 6 whole months.  Grace and Hope touched many lives and continue to do so.  We were blessed with great nurses and doctors and still have a relationship with their surgeon who faithfully sponsors me every year.

After 4 weeks, it was decided to give them their best chance at survival and to surgically separate them.  19 hours later, they slept in their own beds.  Unfortunately, after being in the hospital that long and not being able to get healthy by nourishment, Grace and Hope left our world a week apart.  We never left the hospital and are very proud of them and the time we were blessed with.  We only prayed for 5 minutes.  (This is the short version.  Full story written by myself in Walking with Grace and Hope, not published)

With the passing of my twins, Grace and Hope, I chose the Great Chesapeake Bay Swim to remember them in this memorial swim because it always falls on the week of their birthday and is a great fundraising event for the March of Dimes.  Raising money is just as important to me as training for this event.  

I hope this makes it easy for you to donate and help me reach my goal ($5,300) to reach $30,000 TOTAL over my "career".  Thank you for celebrating with me and for your donation!!

 Contact me at the email below for info and address to mail a check to me if you prefer that method. CHECKS PAYABLE TO GCBS (GREAT CHESAPEAKE BAY SWIM)

Wes Gundacker

[email protected]