LIers swim 3.5 miles, brave jellyfish for Alzheimer's

After watching his grandfather suffer from Alzheimer's disease for years, Bryan Proctor was inspired to create a long-distance memory swim to not only remember him but to raise awareness and money toward research.

Seven years ago, Proctor, 26, of Greenlawn, created the annual Distant Memory Swim, with help from the Alzheimer's Association of Long Island, and now more than $52,000 has been raised.

That first year Proctor, was the only swimmer. Monday, he was among 23 swimmers who braved choppy waters and jellyfish once again to complete their 3 1/2- mile journey across Northport Bay.

"The person who suffers from Alzheimer's isn't the only person affected by it. Families are affected also," said Proctor, a physical education teacher at Roosevelt Middle School whose live-in grandfather, Albert Rivoire, 88, of Greenlawn, died in October of the disease.

Swimmers were accompanied by 14 kayakers, equipped with vinegar for jellyfish stings. They departed from the dock at Asharoken Beach and traveled to the finish line at Knollwood Beach, where family, food, and bragging rights awaited them.

Emergency rescue boats, the Huntington harbor master, Asharoken police, and Northport Fire and Rescue stood by.

"Bryan has seen his mission come to reality without fail," said Mary Ann Malack-Ragona, executive director of the Alzheimer's Association of Long Island.

William Van Nostrand, 52, of East Setauket, a first-time volunteer, took first place after swimming for close to two hours straight.

Van Nostrand, a professor of medicine at Stony Brook University, works in a laboratory that researches Alzheimer's disease. He is also set on completing the Alzheimer's Breakthrough Ride - a cross-country bicycle ride - to further raise awareness.

"I just wanted to race, and raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's disease," he said.

David Borg, 27, a six-time volunteer swimmer from Huntington, said, "It's an excellent and noble cause. It's worth swimming across the Sound if we have to."

The event has grown in funds raised, volunteer swimmers and emotional impact over seven years, said Malack-Ragona, who added that this year marked the highest number of volunteer swimmers for the event. The event raised more than $7,000 this year.

"Brian wanted to do something and it just kept growing every year," said his aunt, Darci Ramsdell, 60, of Bay Shore.

"One person can make a difference," Ramsdell said as she stood on the dock and wiped away tears. Donations can be made to the website memoryswim.org or be sent to the Alzheimer's Association of Long Island, 3281 Veterans Memorial Hwy., Suite E-13, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779.