I want to join this great cause! What do I need to do? 

Great, we’d love to have you on our team! To join, click here. 

What about my streak?

Are you a 2, 5, 10 or 30 year Peaks to Portland veteran? Your streak is amazing and we want you to keep it going!  You can, by participating in our virtual event. If you haven’t signed up yet, please do so now. 

What will the virtual race look like? 

We recognize that swimmers are located across the US and around the world, so we want to make our virtual race as accessible as possible. To do this, you have options for completing your swim:

• Complete your swim between July 1 and 31, 2022. This means you’ll have one month to complete your 2.4 miles.
• You set your schedule. Swim a half mile a day. Break the race in half. Or take on the full 2.4 miles in one epic swim. Best of all, you can wait for the perfect sunny day – thunder, fog and wind are not going to rain on our parade!
• You choose your location.  Your swim can take place anywhere you choose – a pool, ocean, lake, fjord, or other safe body of water.  Please, do not attempt to swim the race route across Portland Harbor. The Harbor Master shuts down the shipping channel for us during the in-person events. He will not be doing so this year. Please be smart, stay close to home, and always follow safety practices.
• Practice social distancing. Please follow all CDC guidelines regarding proximity to others to protect the health of everyone our community. 

Is fundraising a part of the virtual event?

It sure is! Every dollar you raise gives a child the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. We require a minimum donation of $125 for race entry but we ask that you try to raise more. Our kids and our community are counting on it.

Some swimmers have decided to donate their normal race travel costs to the Y to support our cause. Many are finding their friends, family and colleagues are looking for ways to help now more than ever. And, we still offer fundraising tools to make helping kids at the Y fun and easy.

Why is this event so important to the community?

Because it represents the best of us. People of all ages, beliefs and abilities coming together in support of our kids during this most challenging time in our world.  

100% of the money raised by this event goes to kids in our community. Last year alone we provided nearly three quarters of a million dollars in financial assistance for child care, Summer Camp, early childhood education and more. With the historical economic impact the pandemic has had, we know that the need is greater than ever. 

Additional Questions? 

Please contact us at peakstoportland@ymcaofsouthernmaine.org.