So who’s afraid of a little cold water?

Participants in an annual swim event will be donning wet suits, flippers, maybe a mask and webbed gloves, even a life belt or water wings, and swimming one-sixth of a mile surrounded by gorgeous mountain peaks and bright sunshine.

The event is open to the public and benefits Grand County’s Heart of the Mountains Hospice.

Mark the date, Saturday, Aug. 17, when Grand Lake will be at its warmest.

Registration is between 10 and 10:30 a.m. at the west “volleyball” beach in front of Western Riviera. New venue this year since the Grand Lake mayor and town board want to keep swimmers well separated from the marinas and potentially inexperienced boaters. Participants will be gathering and finishing at the Kayak Beach at the far west end of the waterfront.

A fleet of boats including the Grand Lake Fire department boat and others manned by SAR personnel will be at the race to mark and protect the course from Point Park across to the finish, to prevent any collisions and rescue anyone overcome by cold or fatigue. There will also be a van available to take swimmers from the waterfront over to Point Park for the 11 a.m. start of the swim.

And there’s always a yummy bake sale to pack in carbs before or after the endeavor.

Register online at the Hospice website: grandcountyhospice.org. or at the venue Saturday morning. Entry fee is $100, but many of our swimmers coax family and friends for additional pledges.

Prizes are awarded to those with the most donations raised, craziest swim cap and most swimmers recruited.

Come and join all the festivities that day. A Brews and Crews event will have oarsmen and long boards on the lake early in the morning, 8 to 10 a.m., and beer in the park. Busy weekend in Grand Lake, so come on out, support a great cause, and enjoy a bracing swim.