CHICAGO — For the first time in nearly 100 years a swimming event will be held in the Chicago River.

The Chicago River Swim will be held at 7 a.m. Sunday at the main branch of the river. About 500 people are expected to participate.

Organizers were out Friday morning running a safety checks and setting up the one and two mile route.

The swim got the city council’s blessing last month.

The event is also a fundraiser for ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, research. A Long Swim, a nonprofit organization founded by open-water swimmer Douglas McConnell, is putting on the event.

McConnell has lost two family members to ALS. Money raised at the Chicago River Swim will benefit Northwestern.

Real-time water quality tests have been and will be done to make sure swimmers wont get sick. Spectators ar

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