Block Island-Jamestown fundraiser postponed to Sunday
A fundraising run from Block Island to Jamestown has been postponed until Sunday because rough seas are forecast, organizers say.
Ben Tuff, who grew up in Jamestown and still considers him at home despite a job in Connecticut, plans to swim 19 miles to raise awareness and fundraise for the nonprofit Clean Ocean Access in Middletown.
Swimming was moved from Saturday to Sunday as a cold front is expected to sweep through the area with northwest winds lifting the sea off Block Island on Saturday morning, said Dave McLaughlin, executive director of Clean Ocean Access. McLaughlin said the seas are expected to calm down by Sunday with a more normal summer south / southwest wind flow.
With Sunday’s swim, Tuff is trying to raise $ 100,000 for the organization. At 6 p.m. Thursday, 250 people had pledged a total of $ 70,000. The organization said that “100% of proceeds from the event will be directly used by Clean Ocean Access to realize the vision of a clean and healthy ocean accessible to all.”
Since there is a chance he will encounter sharks during the 10-12 hour swim, Tuff will bring protective gear developed by an Australian company to repel sharks with electrical impulses.
In 2019, Tuff swam 23 miles nonstop around Conanicut Island to generate over $ 54,000 for Clean Ocean Access.
Updates on Tuff’s progress will be available at Clean Water Access website. The organization has also identified on its website the locations along the coastline where people can watch Tuff and the time it is likely to reach those locations. A party is planned at the finish line at Memorial Square. The earliest it should finish is 3:15 p.m.
Donations can also be made through the website.
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