Madi Armstrong Will Swim English Channel for Cancer Research

Ultra Marathon Swimmer Madi Armstrong Creates Documentary; Will Swim English Channel for Cancer Research

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 appears up, Steve isn’t alongside her, at the very least not within the bodily sense. Steve died final August after a battle with most cancers. Since the 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 lift cash for Cure Cancer Australia – each cent of it.

“My dad was someone who naturally brought people together,” Madi informed Swimming World. “Seeing a community come together in his memory, united by hope and a shared purpose, feels like such a beautiful reflection of who he was. He showed me what real strength looks like. Throughout his cancer journey, he fought so hard, physically and mentally, even when the easiest thing would have been to give up. No matter how difficult things became, he remained incredibly positive and optimistic and that’s something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.”

The documentary will assist everybody who sees it carry one thing about Steve.

“The documentary tells the story of my dad and me through his cancer journey, the role he played in my swimming career and in shaping the person I am, and how the sport of swimming and the incredible community around it have carried me through the hardest time of my life. It also follows how I’m now using swimming as a way to raise money for a cure and honour dad’s legacy,” Madi mentioned. “What I’m most happy with is that it’s genuine. We needed individuals to see the fact of what most cancers does to a household, but additionally the unbelievable energy, love and neighborhood that may come from it.

“If sharing our story encourages even one person to support cancer research and bring us one step closer to a cure, cherish time with their loved ones, or believe they’re capable of overcoming something they never thought they could, then it’s done exactly what we hoped.”

That was how Steve carried himself – placing others first.

“One of the things I admired most about dad was that he always wanted to help other people,” she mentioned. “He was the form of one who would drop every thing 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 feel that’s the best method I can honour him. By bringing individuals collectively, and turning the ache of dropping him into one thing that has the potential to vary lives.

“I know he would be incredibly proud of that.”

While Madi can also be happy with the occasion, it clearly comes with a flood of feelings.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling at times,” she mentioned. “I would do anything to not be in this position and to still have my dad here, but I’m incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of something so special. Working alongside my amazing JAYD Swimwear family to bring this event to life has been such a beautiful experience and being able to honour my dad while raising money for cancer research is something I’m incredibly proud of. If I can contribute, in even a small way, to a future where fewer little girls have to lose their dad to cancer, then that’s the best part of all.”

Madi feels so strongly as a result of her bond was so shut with Steve.

“My dad was my biggest supporter, my hero, the heart of our family and someone I looked up to in every stage of my life,” she mentioned. “He was the first person I called when something exciting happened, the one who always knew exactly what to say when things weren’t going to plan, and the person who believed in me long before 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.

“When I first bought into extremely marathon swimming, everybody round me although I used to be loopy. But my dad informed me that I had one thing particular and that there weren’t lots of people on the earth 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 gained’t be beside me in the best way we imagined, I’ll be carrying him with me each stroke.

“This year is really about bringing everyone together for the first time and creating something special in dad’s memory. But my hope is that it grows into a tradition that people look forward to each year—not just as a swim, but as a community coming together to support life-saving cancer research. … I’d love to see this become a lasting part of dad’s legacy.”

English Channel fundraiser: