Front Page News!

Guess who's on the front page of today's newspaper?? Well, you don't have to guess. Here's a picture of it (a low-quality image we picked up from the Daily News' website):


Look very carefully... Right by the side head-line, where it says "Swim" is where you'll find Dave's fingertips - he's the one leaping out of the water for his start. If you still can't find him, I've circled him in the copy of the photo below the article. Here's a link to the article, or you can read it here (and you should read it, it made us famous for the day):

55 Swimmers Make a Splash for Breast Cancer Fight

By MICHAEL POTTER Monday, February 13th 2006

ST. THOMAS - Unusually choppy and murky conditions at Magens Bay last year did not stop a record 97 swimmers and waders from taking part in the Against the Tide in the Virgin Islands Swim for Breast Cancer.
This year, the water was smooth and clean for the fourth annual event on Saturday, but only about half the number of supporters got wet for the cause.

Despite the drop in participation, the first time in four years that turnout has not increased, a lively 55 competitors made it more than worthwhile. They walked, stroked and boogie-boarded their way from one end of the bay to the other, all the while raising money for breast cancer patients on St. Thomas and St. John.
The total raised by this year's event was not immediately known, but fees collected from participants who pre-registered totalled $300. Race day registration fees will be tallied and added to the pre-registration total to determine the final amount.

In its first three years, the Against the Tide swim raised a combined $2,707 - including an even $1,000 in 2005. All proceeds from the event go directly to Schneider Regional Medical Center's Partners for Health program to assist victims of breast cancer. Cancer patients can apply to the program for assistance purchasing medications and covering the high cost of treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy.

David Nielsam, who competed alongside his wife, Kendra, was the top swimmer, covering the two-thirds of a mile distance in 17 minutes, 6 seconds. The Nielsams moved to the island only six months ago and have taken part in many of the territory's community athletic events in the last several months.

With swimming their strong suit, and a history of breast cancer in both their families, the couple enthusiastically made Against the Tide their latest workout. Both of Kendra's grandmothers suffered from breast cancer, and one of David's grandmothers also battled the disease.

"It's good fun," David said of the swim, "and it's a good cause."

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women, behind skin cancer, and it is the second most lethal cancer among women. More than 2 million women living in the United States have been treated for breast cancer, and an estimated 212,920 more will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2006, according to the American Cancer Society.

A busy weekend of activities on St. Thomas likely blunted the local turnout for the swim, but tourists and newly relocated residents like the Nielsams came out in unexpected numbers.

Friends Tina Kannheiser and Ellen Stefanacci, visiting from New Jersey aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Adventure of the Seas, stumbled upon the event when they arrived at Magens Bay for a day on the beach and immediately signed up. Kannheiser, 16, is on the swim team at Lacey Township High School and jumped at the chance to get in a workout, despite leaving her goggles and cap on the ship.

"I promised my coach I would keep up my training," she said.

New Jersey was well-represented this year with Anne Barbetti and her husband, Wayne, also taking part in their first Against the Tide swim. The Barbettis moved to St. Thomas from the Garden State just a few months ago, but Anne has lent her support to the cancer society in New Jersey for years.

"Cancer is a cause very close to me," she said. "I have some friends who are breast cancer survivors. When I heard about this, my husband and I decided we had to do it."

- Contact Michael Potter at 774-8772 ext. 310 or e-mail mpotter@dailynews.vi.

Dave is circled in red. The blue area circled just to the far side of Dave is me. Well, more specifically, my right thigh and butt. I'm wearing my red bathing suit which is the only way I could identify myself at work, when everyone asked me where I was on the front page, before I'd even seen it. People were sure I had to be in the photo, and they thought I was the one with the snorkel, or the one wearing blue, etc, etc. The story ran on page 4, and there was another photo there and it's a little easier to see both of us in that one. Too bad they didn't use the photo of Dave running out of the water at the finish line! Everyone I work with was quite excited to see Dave and me mentioned in the paper. The story isn't quite accurate as, while both of my grandmothers had battles with cancer, just one had breast cancer. So, that's the excitement for the day.