ARMS AROUND BAINBRIDGE

Arms Around Bainbridge was started three years ago. We provide financial assistance to a person or
family in our community who are suffering from illness or other hardship. We organize a relay of
interested participants to swim around Bainbridge Island in a single day.

In the previous two years our fund raising was on behalf of two Island citizens battling cancer, both were
single women of limited financial ability with very costly medical care, including surgeries and
chemotherapy. Through referral, our first recipient Olivia Carey, shared with us the unfortunate news that
Katsuko Kimura was diagnosed earlier this spring with stomach cancer, and we have subsequently
designated her as this year’s recipient. When diagnosed in May, Katsuko learned that her tumor is too
large to be removed surgically, so she is going through a 3 month chemotherapy regime. Her
oncologist’s goal is to shrink the tumor so that she can then have it removed surgically in early fall.

Katsuko and her husband, Mark Haley, are Island residents raising two very lovely children, Margaret and Akira, who are
almost 5 and 3, respectively. Margaret goes to Bethany Lutheran pre-school, and Akira will be attending Building Blocks pre-school. Mark is the sole breadwinner and cannot afford to stop working to take care of the children. Katsuko’s family is in Japan, and Mark’s lives on the East Coast. Without our assistance to help pay for mounting medical expenses and daycare, Margaret and Akira may have to be sent away from their parents for an extended period while Katsuko struggles with her illness.

Katsuko and Mark were planning a hopeful future for their
family when this tragedy struck. This is a stressful time for them along many dimensions, and Arms
Around Bainbridge wishes to provide a small measure of support to ease some of the financial burden on
the family. Our wish is for Katsuko and Mark to focus on regaining her health, and put other concerns at
the periphery. This year is economically difficult for many of us, much less adding the burden of battling a
major illness. This is when the Island community needs to dig a little deeper and share a small gesture
with this wonderful family. A little bit from each of us goes a long way. This is true both in financial and in
emotional outreach to keep this family focused on what is important at this time in their lives – get
Katsuko healthy. Our group has learned from Olivia and Kristi the importance of emotional and spiritual
outreach from the community when taking on the battle against cancer.

Arms Around Bainbridge is an Island effort dedicated to reaching out and embracing a local need. We
are strictly volunteer based, and donate all the funds straight to the individual(s) in need. Because the
Board members are all swimmers, we decided to put that swimming to good use by using it as a call to
arms to embrace someone in need. We raise funds primarily through swimmer registration fees,
sponsors, and your donations. New this year, we are also holding a dance with a live band the night
before the swim and selling Livestrong bracelets. The dance is at Edna’s in Lynwood Center on Friday,
August 14, starting at 6:00 pm. Donation is $20 per adult; children under 18 are admitted free. Food and
drinks are not included. If you can’t make the dance, you can donate by sending us a check, or
purchasing a $5 yellow bracelets as a sign of support. For more information or how to donate, please go
to www.armsaroundbainbridge.com or call Orlando Boleda at 206.780.8462.