WWTW Ambassador Sally Orange MBE completes New York City SEAL Swim

Sally Orange MBE, a veteran, adventure athlete, and award-winning mental health speaker travelled across the pond this summer, to take part in the New York City SEAL Swim on August 10th. Sally participated in the event to fundraise for Walking With The Wounded, to support fellow veterans and their families. 

The event is a multi-sport open-water swimming event in New York City, designed to bring together former SEALs, Veterans, Police Officers, Fire Fighters and First Responders. Starting at the Empty Sky Memorial in Liberty State Park in New Jersey, Sally joined approximately 270 other participants, including Shane McKenzie and Brett Kobell from Sunbelt Rentals, as they made their way to the finish line at the One World Trade Centre in Manhattan.  

There were several points along the route where participants were required to complete 100 honour push-ups and 22 pull-ups, with the number 22 being selected to bring attention to the harrowing statistic that 22 US veterans take their lives daily.  

After the second round of honour exercises at Ellis Island, participants then swam across the Hudson River to Battery Park, Manhattan, where they each obtained an American Flag before running to the One World Trade Centre in Manhattan for a final round of honour exercises, paying respect to all those who lost their lives on 9/11, Extortion 17, and all veterans who put their lives on the line for their country.

Sally is one of only a small group of British participants, as well as one of only a handful of women to take on the challenge, but she was determined not to let that get in her way. 

Speaking on the challenge, Sally said, “I’ve completed many challenges over the years, and I’m always looking for something new, so the idea of the NYC SEAL Swim is fascinating! As a veteran and a beneficiary of Walking With The Wounded, I understand just how crucial the charity is. I received help from Walking With The Wounded when I was most in need, so now I want to give back to the charity by completing fundraisers like this, enabling them to help others like me.” 

Kate Tabain, Director of Fundraising & Communications at WWTW, added: “Sally has been an incredible support to Walking With The Wounded over the past few years, and she never fails to amaze us with her sheer dedication to supporting the charity and the work we do. For us as a charity, seeing beneficiaries like Sally rebuilding their lives after receiving the help they needed is an incredible motivator, and stories like hers are why we keep offering our services to veterans and their families in need.”