Extremely Marathon Swimmer Madi Armstrong Creates Documentary; Will Swim English Channel for Most cancers Analysis
When Madi Armstrong was within the water, she knew her father was not far-off.
Steve Armstrong was both within the stands or within the water, too.
Now when Madi seems up, Steve isn’t alongside her, at the least not within the bodily sense. Steve died final August after a battle with most cancers. For the reason that water was so particular to the Armstrong household, Madisyn determined to embrace the water as she raised cash for most cancers analysis. She has put collectively a documentary and also will take part in an open water swim to boost cash for Treatment Most cancers Australia – each cent of it.
“My dad was somebody who naturally introduced folks collectively,” Madi advised Swimming World. “Seeing a neighborhood come collectively in his reminiscence, united by hope and a shared objective, looks like such a lovely reflection of who he was. He confirmed me what actual energy seems like. All through his most cancers journey, he fought so laborious, bodily and mentally, even when the simplest factor would have been to surrender. Regardless of how tough issues turned, he remained extremely constructive and optimistic and that’s one thing I’ll carry with me for the remainder of my life.”
Madi Armstrong and her father, Steve.
The documentary will assist everybody who sees it carry one thing about Steve.
“The documentary tells the story of my dad and me by means of his most cancers journey, the function he performed in my swimming profession and in shaping the particular person I’m, and the way the game of swimming and the unimaginable neighborhood round it have carried me by means of the toughest time of my life. It additionally follows how I’m now utilizing swimming as a strategy to elevate cash for a remedy and honour dad’s legacy,” Madi stated. “What I’m most pleased with is that it’s genuine. We needed folks to see the truth of what most cancers does to a household, but additionally the unimaginable energy, love and neighborhood that may come from it.
“If sharing our story encourages even one particular person to assist most cancers analysis and convey us one step nearer to a remedy, cherish time with their family members, or consider they’re able to overcoming one thing they by no means thought they may, then it’s achieved precisely what we hoped.”
That was how Steve carried himself – placing others first.
“One of many issues I admired most about dad was that he at all times needed to assist different folks,” she stated. “He was the sort of one who would drop all the things for another person with out anticipating something in return. I do know he would completely love that this occasion isn’t nearly remembering him—it’s about serving to different households. I believe that’s the best method I can honour him. By bringing folks collectively, and turning the ache of dropping him into one thing that has the potential to vary lives.
“I do know he could be extremely pleased with that.”
Whereas Madi can also be pleased with the occasion, it clearly comes with a flood of feelings.
“It’s a bittersweet feeling at occasions,” she stated. “I might do something to not be on this place and to nonetheless have my dad right here, however I’m extremely grateful to have the chance to be part of one thing so particular. Working alongside my wonderful JAYD Swimwear household to convey this occasion to life has been such a lovely expertise and with the ability to honour my dad whereas elevating cash for most cancers analysis is one thing I’m extremely pleased with. If I can contribute, in even a small method, to a future the place fewer little women should lose their dad to most cancers, then that’s the most effective a part of all.”
Madi feels so strongly as a result of her bond was so shut with Steve.
“My dad was my largest supporter, my hero, the guts of our household and somebody I regarded as much as in each stage of my life,” she stated. “He was the primary particular person I known as when one thing thrilling occurred, the one who at all times knew precisely what to say when issues weren’t going to plan, and the one who believed in me lengthy earlier than I believed in myself.”
Steve was one of many few to encourage Madi’s extremely marathon swimming profession, which results in the opposite fundraiser. Madi plans to swim the English Channel to proceed elevating cash and consciousness.
“After I first obtained into extremely marathon swimming, everybody round me although I used to be loopy. However my dad advised me that I had one thing particular and that there weren’t lots of people on the planet that would do what I do, so taking over the English Channel feels particularly significant. It’s one thing we dreamed about collectively, and though he received’t be beside me in the way in which we imagined, I’ll be carrying him with me each stroke.
“This 12 months is actually about bringing everybody collectively for the primary time and creating one thing particular in dad’s reminiscence. However my hope is that it grows into a practice that individuals sit up for annually—not simply as a swim, however as a neighborhood coming collectively to assist life-saving most cancers analysis. … I’d like to see this develop into a long-lasting a part of dad’s legacy.”
English Channel fundraiser:
