LONG BRANCH – The annual One Mile Ocean Swim, Walk-Along and return of the Fun Swim sponsored by the Ray Licata Memorial Swim will be held on Sunday, Aug. 17, at Pier Village.
Swimmers and non-swimmers alike are welcome. Families, friends and beachgoers can walk the swim route on the beachfront as swimmers swim the 1-mile water course. The Fun Swim gives future swimmers an opportunity to take to the water as well.
This year’s events will begin at 8 a.m. Registration opens at 6:30 a.m.
The 1-Mile Swim, Walk-Along, and Fun Swim memorializes the untimely passing of Licata, a Jersey Shore resident who loved the beach and always did his part to support shoreline safety. Licata served as an administrator for the Monmouth County Division of Social Services for 34 years, retiring in 2002. He also volunteered for the 9/11 Memorial Project and Deal Lake Commission.
As an avid swimmer, Licata knew the West End waters well. He took care of the beach and could often be seen collecting unsightly trash, providing instruction to young children during their first experiences in the ocean and occasionally helping with rescue efforts. He recognized the importance of the lifeguard’s role and commented shortly before his death about organizing an ocean mile swim in Long Branch.
Fulfilling Licata’s vision, the annual swim will enter its 10th successive year.
The Ray Licata Memorial Swim Committee Members are enthusiastic about continuing the Walk-Along, which allows many more people to participate in this community event.
“We are looking forward to another successful event honoring our 10-year anniversary and anticipating nearly 300 swimmers participating in the 1-Mile,” said Glen Rassas, the event director. “We would like to encourage everyone to come out, swim or walk along the swim route, and support the Long Branch beachfront community.”
Proceeds from this year’s community event will be earmarked to support beach safety as well as the city’s junior lifeguard program. The junior lifeguard program, in its sixth year of support from the Ray Licata Memorial Swim, will teach children and adolescents the basic requirements of beachfront safety, swimming, and lifeguard skills.
“It is our hope to give young members of our community, particularly those who do not have the financial resources to enroll in such a program, an opportunity to learn how to promote ocean safety and potentially become a member of the Long Branch lifeguard team,” Rassas said. “We are proud to have junior lifeguard graduates participating as lifeguards for the City of Long Branch.”
Additional information is available on the event website at www.RayLicataMemorialSwim.com
or by contacting Rassas at 732-222-2932 (evenings) or by emailing RayLicataMemorialSwim@yahoo.com.
