Swim for relief - Diana Nyad's 48-hour swim in Herald Square

Last Tuesday shortly before 9 a.m the long-distance swim legend Diana Nyad dove into the 120-foot long and two-lane wide pool in Herald Square and began swimming lap after lap.  In a pink swim cap she swam for 48 hours in a row to support Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts.  

During these 48 hours of swimming she always had a guest swimmer with her in the water, from Olympic champs such as Ryan Lochte to Twilight stars like Nikki Reed, who put their heads and hearts into a couple of laps.  The water temperature was initially set at 84 degrees Fahrenheit but raised over time to 96 degrees to overcome the increasing autumnal chill during those days. 

The swim in Herald Square was a kick-off to a month-long effort to raise funds for AmeriCares, a nonprofit global health and disaster relief organization that delivers medicines, medical supplies and aid to people in need around the world and across the United States. When Nyad finished her 48 hours she had already brought in about $105,000 in the AmeriCares Relief fund, and the fund raising campaign still continues. 

Procter & Gamble with their brands Duracell, Tide and Secret had underwritten all production costs for the Nyad Swim for Relief event.  

In addition, they had also made sure that there was a guest swimmer in the lane next to Nyad the entire time of 48 hours.  Other brands represented in this event were Charmin, Tampax, Olay, Head&Shoulders and Pantene.  A great partnership to do good, entertain, and educate!