New Maine Open Water Race!

From the organizers....

It is our pleasure to introduce the first annual NUBBLE LIGHT CHALLENGE, taking place on Saturday morning , July 10, 2010. This year’s event will include a USAT (USA Triathlon) sanc tioned 2.4 mile swim race around the “Nubble”. It will be open to 100 swimmers. and 100 kay aker escorts. The race starts on Long Sands Beach and continues out past the Nubble Lighthouse, one of the most photographed lighthouses in the US, swimming through the “gut”, the channel between the lighthouse island and the mainland. The race finishes with a sprint to Short Sands Beach. There will be food from local restaurants and awards following the race at the York Beach ball field which is one block from Short Sands Beach.

The proceeds from the race will benefit the Maine Chapter of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that one in four adults will experi ence a mental health disorder in a given year. Many types of mental illnesses are hereditary and research shows that children raised by parents with depression or other mental illnesses are more likely to suffer the same symptoms as they grow into adulthood. The U.S. Surgeon General re ports that 10% of children and adolescents suffer from a serious mental health disorder that se verely impacts their daily life at home, at school, and with their peers. Early identification and treatment is imperative to minimize the impact mental illness has on the individual, their family, and the community. NAMI provides educational programs and support to families that are di rectly affected by mental illness. They also educate schools and community agencies by identify ing the symptoms and early warning signs of mental illnesses. Your contribution for the swim will benefit these local programs.

NUBBLE LIGHT CHALLENGE is a non-profit organization established in 2010, to raise funds for the benefit our community based organizations by promoting an annual athletic event. Our goal is to promote a safe and quality event that will be competitive for those trying to establish personal goals as well as those satisfied with the goal of finishing.

The NUBBLE LIGHT CHALLENGE will be exciting, fun and rewarding for all who participate. Spectators will be able to cheer the swimmers on from the rocks at Sohier Park overlooking the “gut”. There will also be great viewing from Ocean Avenue Extension that parallels the swim mers as they head to the finish.

Registration for the event will open March 15, 2010. You can register online atwww.nubblelightchallenge.com. We will send out an email updating the registration date.

We are very excited and committed to making this an amazing day.