Swimming three miles, doing 66 pull-ups and running one-and-a-half miles sounds daunting, but for Bruce Newsome, it’s nothing compared to what veterans and the families of military members have given to the country.
Participating in the Navy SEAL Foundation’s NYC Swim 2024, Newsome will travel to New York City where he, along with other participants, will complete those tasks while also raising funds for the SEAL Foundation.
Looking to raise $2,000, Newsome still needs to meet his goal and is asking for help from anyone who would like to assist. All money raised goes toward assisting veterans and Goldstar Families — families who have had a family member die in service.
“The foundation helps veterans with service-related injuries, which include … taking them to physical and mental rehab facilities,” Newsome said. “They also help Gold Star Families by offering scholarships.”
Newsome will defiantly be working for each dollar dedicated to the cause.
Scheduled for Aug. 10, the Foundation’s event will begin at the Empty Sky Memorial in New Jersey and turn into a one mile to the Hudson River. Newsome and others will then swim one mile to the Statue of Liberty and then perform 22 pull-ups and 100 push-ups before completing a half-mile swim to Ellis Island and then performing another 22 pull-ups and 100 push-ups.
The number 22 is significant to the event and the Navy SEAL Foundation.
“We’re always trying to draw attention to this number 22 because 22 veterans commit suicide every day,” Newsome said.
After leaving Ellis Island, Newsome will then complete a two-mile swim to The Battery (formerly known as Battery Park) before finishing off with a half-mile run to the America’s Response Monument near Ground Zero, where he will finish with his final 22 pull-ups and 100 push-ups.
“I still enjoy challenging myself,” Newsome said. “And I enjoy the social aspect of doing these things with like-minded people.”
The British-born Newsome, who served in the Army Reserve with the British Army and then immigrated to the United States, also serves in the Texas Army National Guard and will be carrying the U.S. flag during the event.
Now happy to be living as a Texan, Newsome said he looks forward to representing West Texas and his new home. Since immigrating, Newsome has held numerous jobs, including working in oilfield-related businesses, teaching as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas Permian Basin, has published several novels and is sought as an expert in security and risk management.
“I’ll be so proud to do that as an American, particularly as an immigrant,” he said. “And I’ll also be representing Texas, which I’m proud to do.”
