JULY 19, 2003 | Save The Bay, an environmental organization based in Rhode Island, would like to thank the Rhode Island Chiropractic Alliance for its generous support of the annual Citizens Bank/Save The Bay Swim that took place July 19, 2003 in Newport, Rhode Island.

Now in its 27th year, the Swim is a fundraising event to help ensure Narragansett Bay remains a vital part of the environment, economy and quality of life in Southern New England.

Alliance members not only donated their services at the Swim with free adjustments to swimmers, but prior to the event, members collected approximately $2, 000 in proceeds from adjustments at their individual practices.

Many members of both Save The Bay and the Chiropractic Alliance feel the partnership between the two organizations is a natural one.

"The doctors of the Rhode Island Chiropractic Alliance feel a natural partnership with Save The Bay," said Dr. Ron Marsh, member of the alliance's board of trustees. ìWe choose to declare that partnership by promoting and participating in the annual swim across Narragansett Bay," he continued.

Dr. Marsh pointed out that both organizations work to promote health in various ways.

"Our whole objective in chiropractic practice is to remove interference," said Marsh, adding that nerve-system stress is the type of interference he and his colleagues deal with in their practices. "Our patients get healthier in all kinds of ways by having that interference corrected," he continued.

Similarly, Save The Bay also works to remove interference, he said.

"Coastal wetlands, for example, are major breeding sites for marine life that feed us and keep our oceans in biological balance. Things like pollution, over-development and inappropriate development can interfere with that," said Dr. Marsh.

Founded in 1970, Save The Bay is a nonprofit organization working to protect, restore and explore Narragansett Bay and its watershed. The organization offers education programs to schools, community groups and the general public; protects Narragansett Bay by advocating for Bay-friendly legislation, reviewing permits and raising public awareness; and restores the Bay to full health through an extensive habitat restoration program.

Dr. Marsh described the chiropractic allianceís mission.

"The Rhode Island Chiropractic Alliance was formed in 2000 to try to keep our profession on a steady course of enhancing wellness and human potential expression through promoting integrity of the nerve system," explained Dr. Marsh. Chiropractic is sometimes side-tracked as a form of medicine but that is not its purpose, he continued.

"Clearly chiropractic has never been a form of medicine, which is treatment of disease. Our purpose, on the other hand, is promotion of health. Just a subtle difference? No a huge difference," he said.

The Rhode Island Chiropractic Allianceís membership includes chiropractors throughout Rhode Island as well as surrounding states and lay people. Among its functions, it holds educational seminars and forums and maintains a legislative presence at Rhode Islandís State House to monitor bills that impact chiropractic.

Save The Bay expresses its gratitude to Dr. Marsh of Portsmouth, Dr. Chris Black of East Greenwich, Dr. Jamieson DeCubellis of Wickford, Dr. Jeff Robitaille of Greenville, Dr. Dennis Derocher of Coventry, Dr. Craig Pruitt of Middletown, Dr. Gary Brodeur of Warwick and Dr. David Van Amberg of Bristol for their contributions.

In addition to thanks, Save The Bay also extends a special congratulations to Dr. DeCubellis for joining 300+ swimmers in completing the 1.7 mile swim -- his third time doing so!