Chicago Tribune
                         Copyright 1997

                    Saturday, August 9, 1997

                              NEWS

 LEAVING HER FEARS ON THE SHORE  GUIDED BY A DEDICATED COACH, A
SIGHTLESS
          SWIMMER BLOSSOMS INTO A COMPETITIVE ATHLETE.
                 Ka Vang, Tribune Staff Writer.

     Heidi Musser, who has been blind since birth, nervously held
her swimming coach's hand. The horn blew and Musser, 31, and
Michelle Bradshaw, 20, ran hand-in-hand across the sandy beach.

     "Let's go!" screamed Bradshaw, and both dived into the cool
waters of Lake Michigan.

     Musser was among the 135 competitors at the Chicago Park
District's 26th Annual 2-Mile Fun Swim on Friday. Although the
competition is known as the "fun swim," it meant more to Musser,
who swam to inspire others  facing similar obstacles  and to bring
her closer to competing in the Olympics for those with
disabilities.

     Thanks to her special friendship with Bradshaw, Musser was
able to overcome her fears and finish her first swimming race.

     "I feel great," Musser said after the competition, wrapped in
a red towel and dripping with water. "I do this so other people
will be inspired."

     Bradshaw swam next to Musser for the two-mile competition on
Lake Michigan, which began and ended at Ohio Street Beach with a
turn at Oak Street. Bradshaw guided Musser's movement in the water,
as well as gently tugged her in the right direction--though they
were not connected by a cord.

     Musser, a graduate of Northeastern Illinois University, has
been swimming since she was a little girl, said her mother, Erika
Musser.

     Musser and Bradshaw met when Musser went swimming at
Northeastern Illinois' pool, where Bradshaw is a lifeguard. At
first Bradshaw gave Musser a few tips about her strokes and
breathing. Soon the two developed a special bond.

     "She taught me to never give up, no matter what is in your
way," Bradshaw said.

     Musser, who usually swims up to 3,000 yards every time she
visits the pool, has been practicing four days a week to prepare
for the competition. In the spring, Bradshaw mentioned the
lakefront swimming competition to Musser, who thought it would be
a great experience.

     Erika Musser said that the friendship with Bradshaw has
inspired her daughter to break through the barriers of her
sightlessness  and reach toward her goal to compete in the
Paralympics, the Olympics for people with physical disabilities.

     "A good friendship is the foundation of success, then you can
accomplish anything," Erika Musser said. "Just look at my
daughter."

     Mark Hauser, an event director at Creative and Production
Resources, a Chicago-based event and promotion company, won the
event. Hauser, 30, who swims many  hours every week, said watching
Musser was inspiring.

     "It's rewarding to see people from all walks of life, even
those with handicaps compete," he said. "It took a lot of courage
for her (Musser) to come out here today."