The weather wasn't cooperating the day before the Mighty Mac Swim, which was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to swim across The Straits of Mackinac to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Mackinac Bridge. Winds out of the southwest were gusting at 25-30 mph churning up The Straits with six-foot waves. There was a buzz at the pasta dinner the evening before the big event, "Will the swim take place?" The group of 50 swimmers--49 individuals and one three-person relay team--had trained hard and collectively raised an estimated $40,000 to benefit Mentor Michigan. Each of them was ready and eager to swim. (Click here to make a contribution. Donations can be made until September 30, 2007.)
The swimmers were a diverse group of men and women with all but one--Jeff Czarnecki of Atlanta, Georgia--currently living in Michigan. They included firefighters, business people, a youth worker, mothers, fathers, sons, and more. There was even a Michigan State Representative, Kevin Green, from Wyoming. What motivated them to swim?
Christie Johns of Six Lakes says, "September is my birthday month and for years now, as a gift to myself, I've tried to experience something new. Swimming the Straits of Mackinac definitely takes the cake. Being able to help the mentoring programs is an extra special bonus."
Nancy McAlvey of Lansing, a 51-year-old mother of four, said that every time she has driven across the massive bridge, she has thought, "I wonder what it would be like to swim it?"
Labor Day arrived clear and still. But the question still remained--will The Straits have calmed enough for the swimmers to take to the water? Before dawn, the U.S. Coast Guard and Jim Dreyer, world record Great Lakes swimmer who organized the event, assessed the currents and made the decision. Yes, it's a go!
As the sun began to rise over Lake Huron, the small St. Ignace beach under the "Mighty Mac" was crowded with swimmers, families, friends, and supporters. Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, First Gentleman Daniel G. Mulhern, and Dreyer championed these heroes who were about to test their skills--physical, mental, and emotional--with the epic swim. The swimmers took to the water in groups of eight, along with their support boat, and began the crossing.
Jef Mallett, creator of "Frazz" comic strips, which appears in 150 newspapers nationwide, raised the most contributions for Mentor Michigan to date. He offered his original artwork and raised more than $12,000. Jef is pictured with his parents and brother-in-law, Steve Carey, who also swam. Steve is a married father of four and his children range in age from two to 16. This event drew the family together--Steve from Grand Rapids (right), Jef from Lansing, and Jef's parents from Big Rapids.
The first swimmers began crossing the finish line at the Old Mackinac Lighthouse in Mackinaw
City in approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. After swimming The Straits, they still had to overcome additional obstacles--the infamous Lake Huron rocks. The cheers and applause from the Governor, the First Gentleman, families, and friends gave them the extra boost needed to complete their daring feat.
As the swimmers crossed under the Mighty Mac, overhead were 28 mentor-mentee matches who were a part of Mentoring: A Running Start, an initiative of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness. The program partnered with Mentor Michigan to add a fitness component to already established mentor-mentee relationships. The 28 matches committed to training all summer--sometimes together and sometimes on their own--so each was prepared for the five-mile journey across The Bridge. Each mentor-mentee team had a team sponsor/honorary coach, who encouraged them and provided financial support for their trip north. Also sponsoring the runners was Playmakers, who provided running shoes and workout attire.
The mentor-mentee teams Labor Day journey began on Saturday morning with a bus ride to Mackinaw City followed by a ferry trip to Mackinac Island, where deluxe rooms were waiting for them at the Mission Point Resort. The mentors, who gave up their Labor Day holiday with family and friends to spend it with their mentees, took the lead all weekend showing the kids a good time on the island. The runners also attended the pasta dinner on Sunday evening to help fuel them for their trek across The Bridge.
Shortly after a 3:45 a.m. wake up call on Monday morning, the mentors and mentees 
boarded a ferry to the start of the run. With encouraging words from Governor Granholm to send them on their way, they took off running. Many of them shouted words of support to the swimmers below as they ran across The Bridge.
All 28 of the mentor-mentee pairs finished their run, quite an accomplishment for many who had never run before. Sweaty hugs and smiles were shared among the group that had become friends during this once in a lifetime journey.
After completing the five-mile run across the bridge and congratulating the mentor-mentee pairs, Governor Granholm and First Gentleman Mulhern welcomed the first group of swimmers as they arrived on the beach at the Old Lighthouse in Mackinac City.
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