As a record-setting marathon swimmer, Tom Minnock of Mars thought often about tackling the English Channel.
When his friend died from a rare form of cancer, he was determined to make the swim in his memory.
Mr. Minnock, 58, will take on what is considered the ultimate long-distance challenge some time between Sept. 25 and Oct. 5, depending on the weather.
In Swim for Jim, he hopes to raise $10,000 for the National LeioMyoSarcoma Foundation.
Jim Grimm, of Cranberry, succumbed in Jan. 2020 to the cancer that grows in the smooth muscles in the hollow organs of the body, including the intestines, stomach, bladder and blood vessels.
Mr. Minnock, a former Ironman triathlete who in 2018 became the oldest person to swim across Lake Erie from Ontario, Canada, to Pennsylvania, said he is anxious.
"I pray for calm water, no sea creatures and safe swimming," he said.
The shortest route to swim the stretch of Atlantic Ocean that separates England from France is about 21 miles straight across.
Because of the tides, Mr. Minnock was told to prepare to swim 28 miles by an American coach he got through the Channel Swimming Association, which authenticates swimmers' claims to have swum the channel and verifies crossing times.
Carol Breiter, of Northern California, oversees his pool and lake swimming, giving him assignments, which she said include lots of interval training to build his cardio and lung strength.
Ms. Breiter said her slowest swimmer to swim the channel did it in 13 hours, 38 minutes, her fastest in 10:11.
She has coached 15 to 20 successful crossings since 1985, including a woman who did it three times.
She said most swims that fail are due to sea sickness or hypothermia. Jellyfish also are an obstacle.
Mr. Minnock, a self-employed builder and remodeler, constructed a small indoor swimming pool and set the water temperature from 58 to 60 degrees in the winter to get acclimated to the cold.
Ms. Breiter said the swim is as much a mental challenge as a physical one.
"Many struggle with the mental unknown factors of not knowing when the weather will allow a swim, not knowing what the changing ocean waves and conditions are," she said. "Then there are the tides that are 3 to 5 miles per hour that affect where the finish line will be."
She noted that a danger also lurks outside the water with English street crossing.
"In reality, it is very dangerous because Americans look to the left and cars come from the right," she said. "It is very easy to step into oncoming traffic."
Mr. Minnock, who will swim wearing only a brief, ear plugs and goggles, will have three friends in a boat alongside him providing nourishment and support.
"We'll all be out there," said Kenny Lehman, 47, of Pine, one of his crew. "We'll have a division of labor."
Mr. Lehman said the 5-foot-8, 200-pound Mr. Minnock is the most determined man he knows.
"This is one of those things you really have to be drawn to," he said.
Crewmember Scott McBride, 55, of Adams, Butler County, said Mr. Minnock put a lot of thought into this quest.
"It's not like you just jump into the water," he said. "[There is] family commitment, training behind it."
Mr. Minnock's wife, Karen, 57, said the swim will be nerve-wracking.
"We're fortunate enough to take off to England for a month," she said, adding their 4-year-old granddaughter will miss them.
Annie Achee, president of the National LeioMyoSarcoma Foundation, said the type of fundraiser Mr. Minnock is doing is rare.
"We've had a lot of golf tournaments, but never an English Channel [swim]," she said.
To donate, go to nlmsf.org and scroll down and click on Donate Now, or write to the National LeioMyoSarcoma Foundation, 1685 S. Colorado Blvd., Unit S, Suite 447, Denver, CO 80222. Put Swim for Jim on the memo line.
Karen Kadilak is a freelance writer: goodness@post-gazette.com.
First Published: September 19, 2021, 10:00 a.m.
