Twelve swimmers from across the region, and as far as Washington, D.C., took to the York River on Sunday, May 26 and swam three miles in open water from Felgates Creek along the Colonial Parkway to a private residence on the Gloucester side of the river.

They muscled through the changing tide, cold water and wind, not only in support of the annual Peace Frogs Bank-to-Bank Swim, but also for children.

In this, the ninth annual charity swim hosted by the Gloucester-based Peace Frogs clothing and gifts company, the swimmers each raised $1,000 individually or as part of a team to support children’s charities in the Tidewater region.

Each year, the Bank-to-Bank Swim benefits various charities that support children. The 2013 event supported the Laurel Shelter and Rural Infant Services Program.

Swimmers included Peace Frogs president and founder Catesby Jones, Peter Wilcox, Richard Briggs, Karen Kovacs, Carly Carson, Ron Watkins, Terry Johnson, Tony Negron, Owen Ulsaker, Ron M...