Julie Ridge, President, Treasurer and Founder.

Julie Ridge swam the English Channel in 1982.  She became the first person to swim two consecutive laps around Manhattan Island in 1983 (earning her a guest appearance on the David Letterman Show).  She completed the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon in 1984, swam into the Guinness Book of World Records in 1985 by swimming a 28.5 mile lap around Manhattan Island each day for 5 consecutive days, and in 1990 bicycled over 3,700 miles across America in 47 days, with her father, Frank Ridge (he was 67 at the time!).  Ridge performed on Broadway, is a published author and motivational speaker.  Now a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years experience, she serves children, adolescents, and families.  Julie established the Frank Ridge Memorial Foundation in December, 2013 in her father’s loving memory.  To celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the non-profit organization, Julie’s one-woman show BIPOLAR & THE ENGLISH CHANNEL premiered at an off-Broadway venue in New York City. It has since been reprised at the 2021 and 2022 United Solo Festival and in numerous venues around the country. A short documentary by Zac Norrington, BREATHE, interweaving Julie’s double swim around Manhattan, juxtaposed with her life with bipolar disorder, premiered at the 2022 NYCDOC Festival and was presented at the 15th Annual ReelAbilities Film Festival, April 27 – May 3, 2023. BREATHE has played at international festivals and won Best Short Doc at the Greenwich Village Film Festival in 2024. Julie lives in New York City and is the proud mom to Jason Peterson-Ridge.  [Press:  1983 with David Letterman to watch the segment.]

Photo By: Darin Chumbley