Hi all! My name is Eliana Hornbuckle! I am originally from Nevada, Iowa but am now living in Providence after graduating from Brown University with concentrations in urban studies and environmental engineering. I am taking advantage of my first summer in Rhode Island by completing the 48th Save the Bay 2-mile open water swim! My friend Michal will be joining as my support kayak. 

I have been swimming for exercise for a while now, but swimming was crucial to my health over the past year. In June 2024, I had a bad pneumonia infection that left me with scarring in my lungs. I had difficulty walking, exercising and talking for extended periods of time. By the time I returned to Providence for the fall semester, I could only walk 2 miles. I started physical therapy to regain lung capacity. Climbing stairs and cardio on-land continued to be difficult, but something about swimming was different. Being in the water was easier on my lungs and by the end of the semester, I was able to swim 45 minutes! I've continued to strengthen my lungs and am now back to about 90% of my pre-pneumonia capacities (yay!) and recently completed the Charles River Swim in Boston a few weeks ago. 

Swimming has taught me many lessons, but over the past year it proved to me that my body is resilient. Even though my body is forever changed from having pneumonia, it can still do hard things! I am swimming the Save the Bay race to celebrate my body and its ability to adapt. Plus, Save the Bay is an awesome organization that has helped return Narragansett Bay to a swimmable quality. I have a fundraising goal of $400, and anything you can contribute is greatly appreciated! All funds will go to Save the Bay and support their great work. Thanks for the encouragement and hope to see some of you in Newport on July 19th!