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Photo by David Ahmed
Welcome to Ethan Herschenfeld's
"Boston Light Swim" Fundraiser!
Hello friends, family, and fellow humans. I'm doing the 120th running-- that is, swimming-- of the eight mile Boston Light Swim (https://www.massowsa.org/bls) on 8/4/26 as a personal challenge, and as a way to raise funds and awareness for Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee which runs a food pantry and other vital services for the community. The Boston Light Swim is the oldest open water marathon swim in the U.S. I did a long swim back in 2012, with the idea of building on that one to then do one of the monster marathon swims, like the one around Manhattan. That idea is still floating around in my consciousness and I'm hoping the Boston Light Swim will be a first step-- or stroke-- on that journey. I've found the donations very motivating in the past when a swim gets difficult (like the very cold swim4life in Provincetown in 2024). Just thinking about the donors and the beneficiaries pushed despair to the side and gave me the oomph to keep swimming. I'm banking on that effect on 8/4. I've also decided to match all donations 1:1 so if we get donations of $X, I'll also donate $X, and the CEOC will receive $2X! Math!! Thanks for your support! I'll post a weekly training and fundraising update, and an after-swim report. Happy semiquintennial! -- Ethan
Ethan's Weekly Updates:
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About CEOC
For over 60 years, CEOC has served as Cambridge's anti-poverty nonprofit. They have empowered more than 325,000 Cambridge families to live healthier, more secure lives beyond poverty. CEOC's mission is to empower people and communities to achieve economic stability while addressing the systemic causes of poverty. To do this, they provide wrap-around bundled services to address basic needs, including a food pantry that serves nearly 400 people per week, health insurance assistance, help with housing, financial education/coaching, wellness support, navigation through the maze of public benefits (including SNAP, SSI, TANF, and more), free tax preparation, and financial assistance for emergencies. By consolidating services and eliminating barriers to access, participants can gain access to more benefits and support than they would in more siloed organizations. To learn more about CEOC, check our their 2025 annual report here.