I WAS WATCHING “LITTLE BIG SHOTS” WHERE LITTLE KIDS SHOWCASE THEIR BIG TALENTS. I ASKED MY MOM, “DO WE HAVE ANYONE IN OUR FAMILY THAT’S FAMOUS?” IT TURNS OUT, MY UNCLE JASON SWAM THE ENGLISH CHANNEL WHEN HE WAS 11 AND ALMOST MADE IT. MY UNCLE IS JASON PIPOLY. I ASKED HIM WHAT INSPIRED HIM. HE SAID HIS DAD SWAM THE CHANNEL IN 1980, AND HE WANTED TO FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS. PIPOLY SWAM ABOUT 18 MILES AND WAS 4 MILES FROM THE FRENCH SHORELINE WHEN HE COULDN’T GO ON. IN 1982, HE WAS A GUEST ON THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JOHNNY CARSON. IN 1998, PIPOLY BROKE HIS BACK AND WAS PARALYZED FROM THE CHEST DOWN. IN 2002, HE SWAM THE CHANNEL AGAIN AND BECAME THE SECOND PARAPLEGIC TO COMPLETE THE SWIM. THIS IS SARAH SCHROEDER FOR BEAR ESSENTIAL NEWS.