Dear friends,

This year marks my ninth year participating in the Around-the-Island Swim Relay, a tradition that has become deeply meaningful to me and to so many members of our Bainbridge community. What began as an open-water challenge has become an opportunity to come together in support of neighbors facing some of life's hardest moments.

This year, my swim is dedicated to the memory of my dear friend, Michael Bonoff, who passed away in December. Michael was a familiar and welcoming presence in our local open-water swimming community. Whether joining us on training swims, bioluminescence adventures, or past Arms Around Bainbridge relays, he was always there with encouragement, enthusiasm, and a generous spirit.

Michael was often the one accompanying swimmers from the water, providing support from his kayak and helping keep us safe as we pursued our passion for open-water swimming. This year, with the blessing of his wife Libby, a friend will paddle Michael's kayak during the relay, accompanying her fiancé along the route. It is a small but meaningful way to honor Michael's memory and ensure that his presence remains part of this event he cared about so deeply.

As I swim around Bainbridge Island, I will be thinking about friendship, community, and the ways we lift one another up through both celebration and loss. Those same values are at the heart of Arms Around Bainbridge. Since its founding, this organization has rallied our island community to provide financial and emotional support to neighbors facing serious illness, helping them focus on healing rather than financial hardship.

If you are able, please consider supporting my swim with a donation to Arms Around Bainbridge. Your contribution will help local families navigate difficult times while honoring the spirit of community that Michael embodied so well.

Thank you for helping me celebrate Michael's life and for supporting Bainbridge neighbors when they need it most.