• Submitted by: lena campos
• Sports
• 01 / 01 / 2013

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Many people will set one or two modest goals for the year of 2013, but a 27-year-old woman is setting a New Years Resolution that isn’t so common, and it’s all to benefit a good cause.

Australian marathon swimmer Chloë McCardel announced that she will swim from Cuba to the U.S. , in open water without any assistance or a shark cage in June 2013.  McCardel estimated it would take 60 to 70 hours to complete the longest continuous solo swim in history.

“I believe it is a great time of year to make this announcement when so many people are celebrating the New Year and thinking about their own dreams and aspirations for the next 12 months,” said McCardel.

McCardel said that throughout the swim, she will not touch or board the support boat that will be traveling with her nor will she touch another person during the big swim.

The Australian Champion of the English Channel will swim non-stop for the whole 100 mile voyage without a full-length swim suit, wetsuit, flotation device, flippers, snorkel or other “outside” help that would protect her from sharks and harmful jellyfish.

As McCardel sets out to break the solo-swim record, which is currently 67 miles, she will also use this opportunity to raise much needed funds for cancer research and support for those with cancer.

McCardel, along with her team, has been quietly planning this incredible goal for over 6 months, keeping it a secret from all those who are not yet directly involved – including her family.

“I think my mum will faint when she hears about this,” said McCardel.

McCardel and her team will be assisted by the Commodore Esrich of the Hemingway International Yacht Club of Cuba, the same yacht club that hosted Aussie Susie Maroney’s swim start for a similar achievement, which was completed with the assistance of a shark cage.

Back in August US marathon swimmer Diana Nyad, attempted the non-stop swim from Cuba to Key West without a shark cage for the fourth time but failed.

Now, the record is all up for grabs in McCardel’s favor.

“I really hope I can inspire more people to push their own boundaries or perceived limitations,” said McCardel.

Source: CBS Local.com