Co-founder Grant Egley was a world-class ultramarathoner who logged over 68,000 miles in his lifetime—enough to circle the Earth more than 2.5 times!

Lee J. Greer completed the 4-mile crossing 50 times during his life. He established the tradition in the 1940s, and we are proud to carry it forward today.

The "Everyone Wins" Rule: Our philosophy comes from Lee J. Greer himself: "The swim has never been regarded as a race... often the best efforts are made by those who are younger or less experienced. All who finish are winners."

Johnny McNeill celebrated his birthday every September 2nd with a walk around Lake Waccamaw. He kept the tradition until his 90th birthday, when Julie Stocks and State Park Superintendent Toby Hall joined him for the final leg of his 16-mile journey. His spirit of endurance and love for the Lake remain a foundation of Take the Lake  

Inspired by the traditional Labor Day Swim and Grant’s 50-mile Gator Gallop, co-founder Mark Gilchrist envisioned something even bigger. After a quiet 'test' in 2008 to add cycling and paddling to the 2009 Labor Day lineup, the first public Take the Lake was born.

Johnny McNeill joined Lee J. Greer in turning the ‘Big Swim’ into an annual Labor Day event. Depending on the wind direction, the swim would either launch from or finish at Mr. McNeill’s pier.

Founded and 'anchored' for decades by Lee J. Greer and then Johnny McNeill, the Labor Day swim was kept in good hands by organizers J.B. Lee, Frank Gault, Bob Eplee, and Julie Stocks. Today, that legacy continues under the leadership of Julie Stocks and Laura Greer Vick (Greer’s daughter).