Can Swimming End Poverty in America?
On the 5th of December, Actress and advocate Georgia Van Cuylenburg will be swimming 24,000 meters non stop to bring awareness and understanding to the challenges faced by families living in poverty
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 24,000-meter swim will highlight the challenges families face when they strive to move above the poverty line of $23,860 (2015). In addition to awareness, Georgia's goal is to raise $24,000 to create educational programs that expand the possibilities and self-efficacy of underserved youth.
There are currently more than 43 million people living in poverty in the US and more than 14 million of them are children.
"I believe we have all the skills, access and resources needed to end poverty, but until we truly understand the challenges of living in poverty we cannot change them," Georgia says.
Georgia is known for her work in Final Fantasy, Star Wars, and is an ambassador for the autoimmune condition Alopecia Areata. She is the founder of the nonprofit Arts Bridging the Gap that focuses on changing the future of children in poverty.
Through her work and love for these children, Georgia has seen how hardworking, determined and full of promise their families are and how crucial it is that we open up our minds and hearts to the sheer depth of challenges they face on a daily basis.
"We seldom take the time to consider the hidden issues that come with a life lived in poverty and the extreme amount of grit, perseverance and self-belief it takes to break out of it. A swim is not the same as a lifetime, but there are many parallels to be drawn and many moments of awareness to be created before we can see change," Georgia says.
The 960-lap swim will be completed at the Brentwood Country Club Pool. It will take approximately 10 hours for Georgia to complete the swim. Georgia is an avid long-distance swimmer. Her longest swim previously was 4.5 miles, 7,242 meters.
"I go through waves of fear, nerves, self doubt and that's the point – it's meant to be scary but boy will it be worth it!"
Arts Bridging the Gap has partnered with Crowdrise on this ambitious campaign. You can view the full campaign video and contribute HERE.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161117/440726
SOURCE Arts Bridging the Gap
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