\u201cThis is impossible. You can\u2019t do that. Maybe this is too big for you.\u201d
\nThose were the words people told me during my cancer therapy when I shared my goal of winning my 10th water polo title.<\/p>\n
I remember it like it was yesterday. I had just returned from chemotherapy, lying in my bed, feeling terrible. The room was dark, but the sun was shining outside. My body was reacting heavily to the drugs, and amidst that, I decided I wanted to win my 10th water polo title. I understand why people thought it was too ambitious or crazy. But for me, it became my focus. I wasn\u2019t just fighting cancer; I had a reason\u2014a why. I wanted to be cancer-free so I could win that title.
\nThis is what I mean by turning goals into side effects. My primary goal was to survive cancer\u2014everyone wants to live. But by making survival a side effect of winning my 10th water polo title, I found unexpected energy. Long story short, 18 months later, I achieved that goal.
\nYears later, after a long period of self-discovery (some would call it a midlife crisis – but that doesn\u00b4t sounds so cool), I realized swimming Lake Constance was another important goal for me\u2014not just for the swim itself but to raise awareness.
\nDuring my cancer therapy, I learned two things:<\/p>\n
having a goal helps people endure therapy better, and<\/p>\n
everyone knows someone with cancer. But we don\u00b4t talk about it. It\u00b4s a taboo!<\/p>\n
So, I started my \u201cThe Alpine Seven\u201d challenge to raise awareness for those living with illness and raising money for NF Kinder, Neurofibromatosis. The challenge involves swimming through seven iconic Alpine lakes:<\/p>\n
Attersee (20km) – done June 2025<\/p>\n
Lake Constance (65km) – done July 2025<\/p>\n
W\u00f6rthersee (17km) – done September 2025<\/p>\n
Lago Maggiore (66km) – June 2026<\/p>\n
Lake Lucerne (39km) – July 2026<\/p>\n
Lago di Garda (59km) – September 2026<\/p>\n
and finally Lac L\u00e9man in June\/July 2027.<\/p>\n
When I mentioned that I wanted to swim Lake Constance\u201465 km in one go\u2014only five people had done it while nearly 30 had failed, people thought it was impossible. Their doubts were understandable, because I\u2019m a water polo player, not an open-water swimmer. I hadn\u2019t been in the water for over seven years. At the moment my longest open water experience was 2,5km.
\nMy goal was to swim Lake Constance while my why was raising awareness for those living with illness. That supported me through the lake. Despite having a panic attack at kilometer eight and nearly giving up 12.5 kilometers before the finish line\u2014that are two other stories\u2014I kept going because of my why.
\nWhen was the last time you had a goal that became a side-effect of your why?<\/p>\n
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