Monday, April 24, 2023

Holy Moly Marathon Swim 2: Lake Constance (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)


Me and Aunt Chris, 2022.
Last summer my Holy Moly Marathon Swim for charity was a great success! On July 30th, 2022 I swam 10 miles non-stop across Chicago’s Lake Michigan shoreline, from Gilson Beach to Montrose Beach in five hours and 45 minutes. That swim raised over $6,200 for (my aunt in law) Sister Chris Burgmaier’s Christmas Food Drive, which helped feed over 350 families through the Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester, NY's mission in Paranaiguara, Brazil. 

Due to the enormous success of last year's swim I am happy to announce my next charity swim; The Holy Moly Marathon Swim 2: Lake Constance. This alpine lake is Central Europe's third biggest and straddles three countries. On July 12th, 2023 I will launch from Germany to Austria then Switzerland and back in an 11 mile (18 km) non-stop marathon swim. A captained safety boat alongside me will have family and friends aboard to help document and secure this swim adventure.

This year's goal is to raise $6500 to purchase rice, beans oil, and meat to feed the needy this upcoming holiday season! Funds will be collected through the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Rochester and go directly to Sister Chris's mission in Brazil.

All Donations are tax deductible.

Sister Burgmaier with rice from Holy Moly Marathon Swim donations, 2022.

Donations by Mail:

Please make checks out to 

"Sisters of Saint Joseph of Rochester"

Please Reference “Holy Moly Marathon Swim” & mail to:

Sisters of Saint Joseph of Rochester 

Attn: Office for Mission Advancement 

150 French Road 

Rochester, NY 14618 

Meal kits from Holy Moly Marathon Swim donations, 2022.
Meat from Holy Moly Marathon Swim donations, 2022.

Sister Christina Burgmaier (our Aunt Chris) is a registered nurse and midwife, has served The Church of the Immaculate Conception for the past 55 years. Since she moved to Paranaiguara, at 27, she worked with kindness and joy to help bring thousands of healthy babies into the world and has found ways to feed them. Each Christmas, Sister Christina organizes a food distribution operation which typically feeds more than 350 hungry families during the holiday season. Your charitable donations will purchase rice, beans, oil, and meat from local farmers to provide food for the needy in the town. These important staples, especially meat, are beyond many families' financial means in parts of Brazil.

About Swimmer:

My name is Eyal Feldman, 45, born in Israel and raised in the USA since 1980. Grew up in Calabasas, CA and since 2000 has been residing in New York City. Sister Christina Burgmaier is my aunt in law, and after having discovered her annual food drive for the holidays I felt a calling to help. My marathon swims are for charity and it is my prayer to feed as many needy families as possible this holiday season. I wish to create positive change with family and friends across multiple faiths to help people through fitness and health, G-d bless us all.

Past Charity Swims:

Video of my 6 mile swim across the St. Lawrence River in 2008 to Canada and Back

Video of my 6 mile Marathon Swim across the Sea of Galilee in 2010: Jesus Walked I Swam!

Video of my 7 mile Lake Mead Swim in 2011: Hoover Dam This is a Long Swim

Video of my 9 mile Hawaiian swim from Lanai to Maui 2012: Kamanawana Marathon Swim

Videos of my 10 mile swim across Chicago's Lake Michigan in 2022: Holy Moly Marathon Swim

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Hello -- my name is Eyal Feldman, avid swimmer and fitness enthusiast! To raise money for charity, I will conduct a lone 10-mile nonstop marathon swim across Chicago’s famous Lake Michigan shoreline, from Gilson Beach to Montrose Beach on Saturday, July 30th 2022.

All of the contributions will go to help the poor and needy in the remote town of Paranaiguara, Brazil, in an effort to raise funds for an annual Christmas Food Drive. The annual food drive has been organized by my beloved aunt in-law, Sister Christina Burgmaier from The Sisters of Saint Joseph of Rochester congregation.

Sister Christina (our Aunt Chris!) is a registered nurse and midwife, and she has served The Church of the Immaculate Conception for the past 54 years, having moved to Paranaiguara when she was 27. She has worked with kindness and joy to help bring thousands of healthy babies into the world and has found ways to feed them. Each Christmas, Sister Christina organizes a food distribution operation which typically feeds more than 350 hungry families during the holiday season. Your charitable donations will purchase rice, beans, oil, and meat from local farmers to provide food for the needy in the town. These important staples, especially meat, are beyond many families' financial means in parts of Brazil.

Please join me in supporting this worthy cause close to my heart by helping to fund my new challenge: The Holy Moly Marathon Swim will happen so we can collectively and directly change lives for the better this upcoming holiday season.

I'd like to ask friends, family, and supporters to please sponsor The Holy Moly Marathon Swim. My goal is to raise $5000, and I appreciate any help towards this philanthropic cause!

Funds will be collected through the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Rochester. 

Every donation is eligible for a tax deduction.

"Holy Moly Marathon Swim"


For Mail:

Please make checks out to 

"Sisters of Saint Joseph of Rochester"

Please Reference “Holy Moly Marathon Swim”

 and mail to:

Sisters of Saint Joseph of Rochester 

Attn: Office for Mission Advancement 

150 French Road 

Rochester, NY 14618 

About Swimmer:

My name is Eyal Feldman, 44, born in Israel and raised in the USA since 1980. I grew up in Calabasas, CA and since 2000 has been residing in New York City. Sister Christina Burgmaier is my aunt in law, and after having recently discovered her annual food drive for the holidays I felt a calling to help. I love completing marathon swims for charity and it is my prayer to feed as many needy families as possible this holiday season. I wish to create positive change with family and friends across multiple faiths to help people through fitness and health, G-d bless us all.

Past Charity Swims:

Video of my 6 mile Marathon Swim across the Sea of Galilee in 2010: Jesus Walked I Swam!

Video of my 9 mile from Lanai to Maui 2012: Kamanawana Marathon Swim

Video of my 7 Mile Hoover Dam Swim in 2011: Hoover Dam This is a Long Swim

Video of my 6 mile swim across the St. Lawrence River in 2008 to Canada and Back

Safety Boat: Sponsored by Chicago's Lakeside Spine 

& Wellness and captained by owner Andrew Kiper.

Holy Moly Marathon Swim 2: Lake Constance (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)

Me and Aunt Chris, 2022. Last summer my Holy Moly Marathon Swim for charity was a great success! On July 30th, 2022 I swam 10 miles non-stop...