Kim Miller’s Marathon Swim Story
I know I’m privileged but talking to Kim Miller about her work to end human trafficking really puts my privilege in perspective. Thank goodness there are people like Kim and organizations like Blue Dragon who are working to end human trafficking in Vietnam.
What does that human trafficking have to do with marathon swimming? Just wait until you hear Kim’s remarkable story. She hadn’t thought much at all about swimming since quitting as a teen. However, a two week quarantine in 2021 left her longing to be immersed in water. It wasn’t long before her wish came true when she happened upon some warm and welcoming ocean swimmers. I’ll let Kim tell the rest.
To think that we can do what we love and make a difference in other peoples lives, now that’s a good story.
Enjoy!
In her own words:
I am a social worker, an educator and a learner. In December 2020, after 33 years out of the water, I also started to see myself as an ocean swimmer.
At that time I couldn’t swim a full kilometre without stopping. I was afraid of sharks, fish…and even seaweed! (Now I know that blue bottles and jimbles are far more fearsome than any of those!)
As new friendships made in the ocean blossomed, my confidence grew and so did the number of hours I spent swimming in the sea each week.
In 2022, with the help of a coach and inspirational mentors, I swam around Great Keppel Island in Australia and raised $20,000 for Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation – this rescued children and women who had been trafficked into sexual slavery.
This year, towards the end of July I’ll attempt to swim the English Channel to end human trafficking in Southeast Asia.
I swim because I love it. But when the swimming gets tough, I keep going because it’s such a privilege to be able to choose our challenges in life. I want every stroke I take to bring someone else a little closer to that same freedom.
My Kim’s Big Blue English Channel Swim fundraising page
My blog, Facebook and Insta pages and they can email me at kim@bdcf.org
To date, Blue Dragon has:
- Rescued 1,431 people from trafficking
- Represented 261 people in court cases
- Sent 6,314 kids back to school & training
- Provided shelter to 1,668 girls & boys
- Placed 445 teens in jobs
- Served 672,359 meals
- Built 262 homes for families
- Reunited 769 runaways with their families
- Obtained legal papers for 13,544 people
- Played 3,490 games of soccer!
