Community Charity Swim at Castle Island Supports Research and Patient Programs at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute

Swim Across America, the national nonprofit organization that makes waves to fight cancer through charity swims across the U.S., will host the 31st annual Swim Across America – Boston Open Water Swim on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at Castle Island at Pleasure Bay, 2080 William J. Day Blvd., in South Boston. The community swim welcomes swimmers of all ages and skill levels, with a Kids’ Splash for children younger than 8 and half-mile, 1-mile and 2-mile open water options. For those unable to participate in person, the virtual SAA My Way option allows participants to choose their own activity and timeline. Proceeds support cancer research, clinical trials and patient programs at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute. To register to swim, volunteer or support the event with a tax-deductible donation, visit swimacrossamerica.org/boston.

Founded in 1996, Swim Across America – Boston has raised more than $9 million for cancer research. Funds raised by the Boston community help support innovative survivorship research at Dana-Farber’s Perini Family Survivors’ Center and early-stage research and clinical trials at Mass General Brigham, including work led by Bryan Choi, M.D., Ph.D., on tandem CAR T-cell therapy for aggressive brain tumors. Early funding from Swim Across America – Boston and Swim Across America – Nantucket helped move Choi’s research into a Phase 1 human trial, where initial results showed dramatic and rapid tumor regression.

For longtime Swim Across America participants Jessica Stokes and her husband Rick Osterberg, the impact of early research funding is personal. Stokes, a member of Team Festivus, has raised more than $14,000 for this year’s swim. Osterberg, a longtime volunteer who now serves as the Boston event’s emcee, was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer in January 2018. After chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, he went into remission, but a routine scan in June 2020 found a new tumor. After four more grueling rounds of chemotherapy, where Rick was laid up, his treatment team recommended Keytruda, an immunotherapy treatment – a treatment that was funded by a Swim Across America grant that played a significant role in getting the treatment FDA approved. The medication continues to work successfully, with virtually no side effects.

“My life today on this immunotherapy treatment is vastly different from when I was undergoing chemotherapy,” noted Rick Osterberg. “It’s night and day the difference I feel. For that, I’m incredibly grateful to Swim Across America and all of the incredible research the swims fund.”

“Rick and I were committed to Swim Across America before he was diagnosed,” Jessica Stokes said. “The immunotherapy treatment continues to be successful, with virtually no side effects for Rick and it just re-emphasizes even more why we make waves to fight cancer.”

Siblings Morgen and Colton Hall, who are fundraising together with Team WaveMakers, currently lead the individual fundraising standings with nearly $25,000 raised. Team WaveMakers is captained by Olympic swimmer Janel Jorgensen McArdle, also a Boston resident. The Halls’ mother was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer nearly three years ago and continues to receive care at Dana-Farber.

“This summer, we’ll be swimming in honor of our mom and all those impacted by cancer, with every stroke reflecting our gratitude for the research that gives families like ours hope,” Morgen and Colton Hall said. “Watching her courage has taught us what true strength and hope look like.”

Team Kitty’s Kats, led by longtime participant Kitty Tetreault, is currently the top fundraising team, and Tetreault is the No. 2 individual fundraiser. Kitty has participated in Swim Across America – Boston for more than 30 years, recruiting swimmers, volunteers, family members and friends to support cancer research in the Boston community, and as one of the event’s directors.

“Everyone who participates with Swim Across America is so inspiring — from the patients undergoing cancer treatments, to the incredible doctors and nurses who work tirelessly for a cure, to my fellow athletes, both young and old, who find friendship and fulfillment through the sport of swimming,” Kitty said. “Even though we’re small fish in a big pond, we all can make a difference together.”

Pam Ryan, chair of the Swim Across America board and captain of Team Goldman and Friends, is the third-leading individual fundraiser, with more than $18,000 raised. Ryan swims each year in honor of friends and family members who have battled or are battling cancer and in memory of loved ones, including two aunts and longtime swimming friends. She also visits the cancer centers and researchers supported by Swim Across America to see how early grants are advancing clinical trials.

“I joined the Swim Across America community so that, together, we can change the future for these dear friends and many more,” Pam Ryan commented. “The money you give will go towards cancer research, prevention and treatment and will make an impact in the fight to find a cure.”

The Boston community also expanded its reach earlier this year with the inaugural Swim Across America – Boston College Pool Swim, held this past March. Boston College students Aiden Bucaria and Chloe Otten helped organize the event with support from five-time Olympian and BC Swim and Dive head coach Dara Torres, assistant coaches Bruno Darzi and Chris Morgan, and Boston College alumnus and Swim Across America board member Jack Salerno. Students, alumni, faculty members and local swimmers participated in lap swimming, relays and a spirited inner-tube challenge to support the same Boston-area beneficiaries.

Whether participating at Pleasure Bay, volunteering on land or in the water, donating to a swimmer or team, or choosing a virtual personal SAA My Way challenge, Swim Across America – Boston offers a way for community members of all ages to help fund better treatments and more hope for patients and families.

Nationally, Swim Across America has raised more than $150 million for cancer research since its founding in 1987 and has helped fund clinical trials that contributed to the FDA-approved cancer immunotherapy medications Keytruda, Opdivo, Yervoy and Tecentriq. In the past year, Swim Across America funded a breakthrough clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering that showed that immunotherapy alone could successfully treat certain types of cancer. The organization also recently awarded two first-of-its-kind gene editing innovation grants to the Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, advancing novel CRISPR gene and base editing techniques used in targeted therapies, immunotherapies and cellular therapies. Swim Across America supports more than 60 cancer research projects annually, has eight named Swim Across America labs, and supports work at many of the nation’s leading cancer institutions.

For those interested in swimming, volunteering or donating to the 31st annual Swim Across America – Boston Open Water Swim on Aug. 15, please visit swimacrossamerica.org/boston.

Swim Across America, Inc. (SAA) is dedicated to raising money and awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment through swimming-related events. With open water and pool swims in 27 communities across the United States – from Nantucket to under the Golden Gate Bridge – Swim Across America, along with the help of thousands of swimmers and volunteers nationwide, and past and current Olympians, is helping find better treatments and a cure for cancer through athleticism, community outreach and direct service. To learn more, visit swimacrossamerica.org.