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Former Villanova University swimmers Kiersten Rosenberg, Tori DeLollo and Trista Felty don't compete anymore, but on Monday they'll combine on a relay to attempt the world's most famous open water swim, the English Channel.

It won't be for glory, and it certainly won't be for fun. It's for Lauren Schulman, their friend and former teammate, and for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Schulman, a distance swimmer at Villanova until her graduation in 2006, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis a year later. Her three friends decided to attempt the relay swim in honor of Schulman and to raise donations for the fight against the disease.

"We've been swimming with the Villanova team in King of Prussia between six and eight in the morning in the chilly water and cold air," Rosenberg said. "I've actually done only a few open water swims, so this will be quite a challenge.

"Lauren said she was very honored when we told her what we planned to do. She was pretty emotional."

Rosenberg, Felty and DeLollo were in Brigantine on April 21 where friend Dave Donati recorded that they each swam two hours in 60-degree water in a qualifier. He submitted a paper to the Channel Swimming Association and Federation that he witnessed the swim.

"How it works is, they need someone to verify that we were in the water the whole time," DeLollo said. "We were looking for a place where the water was colder and darker, like the Channel. Dave is one of our friends and has a bay in the back of his house."

The English Channel swim across the Strait of Dover is a 21-mile, 15-hour trip, and the three women will take turns, each swimming an hour. The Channel waters are about 60 degrees in late June, and swimmers are prohibited from using wet suits for the swim to be officially recognized. There can also be high winds, and wave heights can be higher than six feet.

Schulman will accompany Felty, DeLollo and Rosenberg when they leave for England on Friday. The three swimmers will take off from Dover, England, on June 29, and Schulman will be on the boat watching.

"I'm still overwhelmed and shocked," Schulman said. "When they told me about their plans I was speechless and totally humbled. I'll be there cheering, watching and helping any way I can, and hopefully inspiring them."

Schulman, of White Plains, N.Y., was a distance swimmer at Villanova, who graduated in 2006. Rosenberg, of Pittsburgh, and Felty, of Pottsville, Pa., swam butterfly and distance, respectively, and also graduated in 2005. DeLollo, a 2005 graduate and Albany, N.Y. resident, swam the backstroke. All four women are 25 years old.

Supporters can get more information or donate at www.mswim.wordpress.com. A donation through the mail should be sent to: English Channel Swim, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Attention: Sarah Buck, N.Y.C. Chapter, 733 3rd Ave., 3rd Floor, New York, N.Y. 10017.

E-mail Guy Gargan:

GGargan@pressofac.com

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