Nassau County Athlete Of The Week: Valley Stream Resident Keith Drayer Swimming For A Cause

VALLEY STREAM, NY — 15 years ago, Keith Drayer could barely make it across the length of a lap pool. Last weekend, he swam nine miles across two days, raising over $8,000 for cancer research in the process.

On July 31 and Aug. 1, Keith, 61, completed the 5.6-mile Maggie Fisher Memorial Swim across the Great South Bay, from the Fire Island Lighthouse to Gilbert Park, then completed the Swim Across America 5K — 3.1 miles — at Pryibil Beach in Glen Cove.

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While he has 26 marathons and two Iron Mans under his belt, Keith said last weekend's swims had a bit of extra purpose behind them.

"Swimming for a cause — two great causes — gives you extra oomph, and motivation to accomplish it," Keith said. "Swim Across America, it really touches everybody, because everybody knows somebody who has suffered from cancer, who is suffering now. And if we could advance research to make a cure happen — when it happens, not if it happens — it's going to benefit everybody. Maggie Fisher is its own separate cause; they're about providing comfort and hospice, support for families and individuals."

Drayer said he started swimming in a masters program at Eisenhower Park — jumping in at 6 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays — and started swimming to train for triathlons.

When asked how he felt as he left the water, Drayer said he was thinking not about his own accomplishment, but about the people for whom he was swimming.

"It was an honor to be able to do this. I have a brother who's undergoing cancer treatment now, I have another brother who was just diagnosed, and friends [who have been diagnosed with cancer]," Keith said. "And it makes it all that much more worth it…we raised over a million dollars, collectively, the hundreds of swimmers who swam."

When he got out, his wife, Tracey, was waiting for him. Tracey said she has been along as a "support team" throughout Keith's career, traveling to six "world major" marathons in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York City, and additional races in places like Washington, D.C., Madrid and Miami.

In an effort to stand out from sometimes massive crowds along Marathon routes, Tracey said she sometimes brings a red-and-white-striped hat, reminiscent of Dr. Seuss's "The Cat In The Hat." She previously tried bringing cowbells, but found that other spectators brought cowbells of their own, making it easy for Keith to confuse the sounds and miss his wife along the race route.

Regardless of whether or not Keith spots her along the route, Tracey said the feeling is often the same — with some slight adjustments for open-water swims like the ones that took place last weekend.

"There's always a lot of pride in him, and that he's achieving a goal that he has set for himself," Tracey said. "And relief, as well, because an open-water swim can come with some dangers."

Saturday, swimmers had the option to swim a quarter-mile, half-mile, mile or a 5K, Drayer said. He chose the longest distance, and — despite swimming into his ninth mile of the weekend — described the swim as a peaceful one.

"I'm at peace in the water, and I take it all in," Drayer said. "I'm there, in the moment, and enjoying it."