Arms Around Bainbridge Island

Arms Around Bainbridge Island

Arms Around Bainbridge began in 2007 with seven friends, a 30-mile swim around Bainbridge Island and one goal: to provide financial and emotional support to a friend as she battled ovarian cancer. Since it’s inception, Arms Around Bainbridge has grown to feature bicyclists, rowers, and walkers.

I had the pleasure of participating in the Arms Around Bainbridge fundraiser. Believe it or not, a revolving team of hearty swimmers take to the open water – most in wetsuits, some not! Participants swim the perimeter of Bainbridge to raise money for people in our community who are battling illness.

I volunteered as a kayaker to guide swimmers out of seaweed, jelly fish, and to the most direct route. I accompanied 2 sets of teams and my paddle took me from the northwest side of the Island, under the Agate Pass Bridge, past Point Monroe to Fay Bainbridge Park, where a new team took over.

Arms Around Bainbridge has disbursed over $500,000 and 90% of donations directly support beneficiaries. Arms Around Bainbridge is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization with very few expenses.