The Bay Area water will be cold on Sunday morning.

“It’ll be about 65 degrees,” says retired Navy Captain Steve Swift. Steve swims in the open water as part of his triathalon training. But this weekend, swimming is all he will do.
Swift, as well as others, will be taking part in the 10th annual Frogman Swim this weekend near the Gandy Bridge. Its a 5K event (3.1 miles) dedicated to raising money for the families of fallen Navy SEALs.

“When it’s getting a little cold and you’re getting a little tired, you can’t see as well, or something like that, you’re enduring because you’re saying these guys have given their all," said Swift. "I can certainly swim a few more yards or go another 20 minutes to finish this thing off and get it done.”

“I was in the service in the ‘80s," said Rory O'Connor, who is the Frogman Series Chairman. "So to see this type of this support growing - it’s heartwarming. You go back to that time of Vietnam so it’s really nice now to see people coming out and having general support for the military.”

Rory O’Connor remembers when the event started in 2010 with a group of 30 people who raised 30,000 dollars for a severely injured Navy SEAL. This Sunday - the event hopes to raise $700,000.

"We had different people - professiona swimmers, civilians, military, all coming out for this great event that has really just taken off each year and blossomed."

The Frogman swim also takes place in San Fransisco. There will be an inaugural event in Boston this year.It attracts all kinds of supporters. Here in Tampa - 14- year-old Tommy Arditti made the trip from China to swim in the Bay.

"This is just such a great cause and to be able to do this for those who have died for our country and give back - it's just an honor." said Arditti.

No matter your age or stamina, the goal is to remember what Navy SEALs endure with cold water training. But the true reminder for this event comes at the end when swimmers make it to the finish at Picnic Island.

“The swimmers come out of the water and have a commemorative coin placed on them by a member of a gold star family - someone who has lost a loved one, and that’s an experience.

And as for the message this event send to those Gold Star families: “You’re not forgotten," said Rory. "And your loved one’s sacrifice is not forgotten and that is what this is all about.”

It’s a swim for the those who have served and given the ultimate sacrifice. And the memory of every Navy SEAL will be held in the heart and mind of every swimmer with every stroke they take in the waters of the Bay.