Swim For Life BloodworksNW

Kayakers and SUP register for free!

SUPPORT A SWIMMER OR TEAM! MAKE A DONATION.

WAYS TO MAKE A SPLASH:

Register your team, or let us help form one.

Kayak, boat, SUP or jet ski to support swimmers.

Make a donation to support a swimmer or team.

Sponsor the event.

Parking

Parking will be on side streets in the neighborhood surrounding the start line, there should be ample parking, but please consider walking, biking, carpooling or taking the bus. If you do drive please allow enough time to find parking.

New Swim Route – Conquer the Peninsula!

1 mi: Out and Back from Seward Park

2.5 mi: Start/Finish at Seward Park, loop Bailey Peninsula

6:00AM

Kayakers can start dropping off kayaks.

6:30AM

All swimmers & volunteers check-in.

7:15AM

All swimmers will undergo Safety Briefing.

7:30AM

2.5 mile swimmers First wave launches (waves launch every 5 minutes).

8:00AM

1 mile swimmers launches.

8:30AM

Swimmers begin arriving at finish line.

10:30AM

All swimmers to finish line. Afterparty!

Pace:
You will conquer the peninsula together as one team with one kayak/SUP, so be realistic about your mile pace time! A difference of more than five minutes per mile on a team may be awkward unless you already know each other and the faster swimmer is patient.
Start Times:
To consolidate the finish experience, slowest teams for the 2.5 miler start first and fastest start last—after the top three fundraising teams have started! Ideally, each wave after the top fundraisers should have 15-20 teams:

• Top Fundraisers (Blue)

• Pink Wave: 46 mins/mile or more

• Red Wave: 40-45 mins/mile

• Green Wave: 34-39 mins/mile

• Orange Wave: 27-33 mins/mile

• Yellow Wave: Less than 27 mins/mile
Forming Teams:
Each team may consist of 1 – 4 swimmers. Additionally each team MUST have a kayak/SUP to guide your team of swimmers along the way. Recruit your own volunteer kayak/SUP or we will provide you with one.
Splitting teams:
Team getting too big for the four-swimmer safety limit? It often happens, once you start recruiting. Any participant can easily create a new team with himself/herself as captain. The new team will need its own safety boat.
Team registration:
If you are registering by team, you do not need to know all of your team members at the time of registration.
Solo registration:
For a swimmer or kayaker with no team yet, we will assign you a team of other similar paced swimmers and e- introduce you before the swim.
Registration closure:
Registration closes this year on August 23.
Fundraising:
Fundraising is not required, but this event exists to raise money for livesaving programs in blood donation and research. You will get your own customizable fundraising page, and individuals, teams and waves will be recognized for their support of this mission.

Do you love to Kayak or SUP? Sign up to help guide our teams safely to the finish line! Click here for all volunteer positions.

What started as one man’s swim across Lake Washington in honor of a friend who lost a son to leukemia has evolved into an annual gathering of lifesavers in support of Bloodworks Northwest. Now in its 20th year, Swim for Life has raised nearly half a million dollars and attracts hundreds of swimmers, kayakers, and SUPers looking to make a positive impact on the community. As frequent blood donors, founders Scott Leopold and Bob Forgrave understand how one act of kindness can help many. And what better way to make a difference than by supporting Bloodworks, an organization that provides blood to patients in critical need at more than 90 hospitals throughout the Northwest for more than 70 years. Are you ready to jump in and swim for life?