Ben Lecomte to Swim from Tokyo to San Francisco and Invites You to Join Him
AUSTIN, TX - 8/23/2015 (PRESS RELEASE JET) -- One man will soon undertake an audacious first: swimming the length of the Pacific Ocean. He will be swimming from Tokyo, Japan to San Francisco, California.
You might not believe this to be a serious proposition until you learn that Ben Lecomte, the groundbreaking swimmer, has already swam the Atlantic Ocean, from Boston to France.
“Imagine, swimming eight hours each day, eating eight thousand calories per day, and keeping this up for over six months. Anyone hearing about this plan can’t help but be awed. It is truly inspiring, and I think, more than the food, it is fueled by Ben’s passion for bringing awareness to the health of our oceans in an inclusive way,” Says Dr. Armin Ellis, Founder of the Exploration Institute and strategic partner with The Longest Swim.
During six months of the swim, Ben Lecomte will have an intimate and unique connection with the Pacific Ocean. He will be able to see and interact with marine life; he will battle with harsh weather conditions, such as the cold water and 15 ft’ waves; and of course, he will see first hand human impact on the oceans. In fact, Ben will be wearing a small device to measure and map the remnants of the radiation in the ocean from the Fukushima disaster.
Dr. Ellis says, “One of the things I really appreciate about Ben’s approach to ocean health is that he is bringing awareness to a serious problem which will impact all of our lives. What is really refreshing though, is that he isn’t pointing fingers, because he believes that everyone and all industries are ultimately going to have to be a part of the solution going forward.”
Part of the journey is to share this adventure with a large number of people. Ben has launched a crowd funding campaign on IndieGoGo and is inviting anyone interested in the health of the oceans to not only help fund his expedition, but also to use social media to follow him, learn, and to spread the message far and wide.
Some of the other participating organizations in The Longest Swim are Water Defense, Founded by Actor Mark Ruffalo, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Marine Biological Laboratory, Sea Education Association, ProGEA global, University of Chicago, and UT Southwestern Medical Center.
“It is an honor to partner with the Exploration Institute and to be a part of its vast community of explorers. My hope is for many more people to learn about and care for the oceans, and to then be inspired enough to apply what they have learned to their daily lives. After all, no matter where you live, the oceans are yours too,” Says Ben Lecomte.
For individuals wishing to support Ben Lecomte’s campaign, please visit The Longest Swim Indiegogo page at: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-longest-swim-tokyo-to-san-francisco#/story. All corporate and Foundation sponsors, and press inquiries are invited to contact Exploration Institute by email at: thelongestswim@exploration.institute, or by phone at: (626) 578-5499.
Media Contact
Company Name: The Longest Swim
Name: Dr. Armin Ellis
Phone: (626) 578-5499
Email: thelongestswim@exploration.institute
Website: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-longest-swim-tokyo-to-san-francisco#/story