Diana Nyad Attempts 48-Hour Swim To Raise Money For Sandy Victims

Fellow Athletes Ryan Lochte, Justin Tuck Join Nyad At Midtown Event
Superstorm Sandy

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — After her record-setting swim from Cuba to Florida last month, Diana Nyad hit the water again on Tuesday — this time, her big swim will support superstorm Sandy victims.

Photos: Diana Nyad’s Historic Swim

Nyad, 64, will attempt to swim for 48 hours in a 40-yard pool set up in Herald Square, CBS 2’s Elise Finch reported.

The funds raised by the event will be given to AmeriCares, a non-profit global health and disaster relief organization.

“We’re going to make this a commitment to caring in the heart of New York City, and in the end, turn over a big check to AmeriCares for the victims of Hurricane Sandy,” Nyad said. “To those of you who have suffered, let us stand up and tell you that we have not forgotten you.”

AmeriCares said even nearly a year after the storm, many affected residents still need help getting back on their feet.

“We’ve already distributed $6.5 million worth of relief in communities all over the Tri-State and there’s so much more to do,” Curt Welling with AmeriCares told WCBS 880’s Paul Murnane.

Nyad will be joined by Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte, Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin, New York Giants defense end Justin Tuck and fitness guru Richard Simmons.

Other celebrities, notable New Yorkers, Sandy victims and first responders have also been invited to join Diana Nyad in the pool so that she’s never swimming alone.

They will, in turn, distribute the money and supplies to the thousands of people still struggling to recover from the storm, like Staten Islander Karen Zboinski.

“This is great to have groups like AmeriCares and Diana Nyad out there to help us with whatever we have to do now,” Zboinski told Murnane.

“Just to do something for that many hours is just absolutely incredible – physically and also mentally tough,” a firefighter from Ladder 33 told 1010 WINS’ Al Jones.

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