On June 6, 28-year-old Chris Ring began a challenging journey. Ring partnered with Legacies Alive, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping families of fallen servicemembers and preserving the memory of these individuals' sacrifices, to start Swim for their Sacrifice. Ring is a combat veteran who has been in the Navy for 10 years. His mission is to swim the Mississippi River and along the way meet with Gold Star Families, which are families of soldiers killed in combat.
Ring started his trek in Lake Itasca, Minnesota, and swims about 16 miles a day. The Navy veteran has lost 20 pounds in just 40 days. But even after a grueling day of swimming, sometimes through rough and rocky waters, Ring meets with families who lost a loved one in service to the country. Those whom he meets sign his guide kayak in show of support. One of the Gold Star Families told USA Today that Ring's mission is very important. It helps remind people of their loved ones' sacrifice – something they think about daily.
The journey will take Ring almost 2,600 miles, and he hopes to finish sometime in November or December. Not only is Ring's goal incredible for its patriotism, but when he completes the swim, he will become the first person to ever swim the entire length of the Mississippi River.