Making Waves to Fight Cancer since 1987
Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Nantucket community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiaries, Nantucket Cottage Hospital, Palliative and Supportive Care of Nantucket, and Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute, at swimacrossamerica.org/nantucket.
Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America – Tampa community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiary, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, at swimacrossamerica.org/tampa.
15th Annual Swim Across America, Michelle Deaton live interview
15th Annual Swim Across America, Cade Clark live interview
Swim Across America making waves in St. Pete Beach
Swim Across America raises money for cancer research in Tampa Bay
Swim Across America Marks 15 Years of Pediatric Cancer Fundraising in St. Petersburg
Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Phoenix community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiaries at swimacrossamerica.org/phoenix.
Swim Across America is making waves to fight cancer
Swim Across America is making waves to fight cancer
High School Students Plan Fundraising Swim for Cancer Support
Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Martha’s Vineyard community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiaries at swimacrossamerica.org/mv.
High School Students Plan Fundraising Swim for Cancer Support
Rich DeSelm’s connection to Swim Across America runs deep — rooted not only in his own cancer journey but also in a lifelong commitment to swimming and building community.
Rich was first diagnosed with testicular cancer in January 1982. Since then, he has faced multiple cancer and heart challenges, leaning on the expertise of his medical care team, and his community of supporters who have helped him every step of the way.
“I’ve been fortunate to receive incredible care at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, the beneficiary of the Swim Across America – Carolina pool swim,” Rich shares. “That support has motivated me to keep giving back.”
His story with swimming and cancer fundraising began decades ago. In the early 1980s, alongside his friend, Peter McGrain, Rich helped launch a community event in Chapel Hill called Swim For Life. The summer fundraiser brought together families and swimmers from the Chapel Hill Summer Swim League and raised awareness and funds for cancer research.
Around that same time, after Rich graduated from UNC, he took an assistant coaching position and remained on the coaching staff for nearly 30 years.
When Rich stepped down as Head Swimming Coach at UNC in 2019, his successor, Olympic gold medalist Mark Gangloff, worked with Swim Across America CEO Rob Butcher to bring a new event to Chapel Hill — continuing the mission that Rich had helped start years earlier. Thus, Swim Across America – Carolina was born!
The community pool swim has grown exponentially since its inception in 2022. Last year, supporters raised more than $170,000 for UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
For Rich, the connection to Swim Across America is personal. “I feel a very close connection to the Swim Across America mission,” he says. “I am swimming for all cancer patients and survivors, especially those in the swimming community, and on behalf of all cancer care providers, including family members, who play such a vital role in care and survivorship.”
This year, as he joins the Swim Across America – Carolina community, Rich carries with him not only his own survivor story but also the stories of countless others who inspire him to Make Waves to Fight Cancer.
If you are inspired to support Rich and Team Tar Heel, give here.
For more than a decade, Paul Felton has been a dedicated supporter of Swim Across America – San Francisco, raising an impressive $25,000 to fund life-saving cancer research. This year, he’ll once again take the plunge as a swimmer, carrying with him the stories and strength of those closest to him.
Paul was first introduced to Swim Across America through a close friend whose daughter was diagnosed with a rare cancer and treated at UCSF. Funds raised through Swim Across America – San Francisco are granted to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. Grantees also include researchers at UCSF.
“We were all water polo players,” Paul recalls. “Hearing about SAA and already having competed in open water events, it was easy to do something we loved while contributing to a cause that was so close to our hearts.”
Several years later, the mission of Swim Across America became even more personal when Paul’s own daughter, Claire, was diagnosed with leukemia. After taking time off, he returned to the swim in 2024 with a renewed sense of purpose.
“Last year Claire was diagnosed a week before the swim, and I registered, knowing from my past experience with Swim Across America, that any fundraising I could do could benefit Claire and so many others going through cancer treatment at USCF,” Paul said.
“Having a loved one directly affected by cancer, it’s impossible to know exactly what they are going through physically and emotionally,” Paul shares. “If there’s anything I can do personally, and to encourage friends and family to get involved, it’s nice to know that every dollar we raise goes directly to increased research and treatment that supports children and young adults with cancer.”
For Paul, Swim Across America is more than a swim—it’s a powerful way to show up for his daughter, his friend’s family, and the countless others impacted by cancer. His commitment is a testament that together, we can Make Waves to Fight Cancer.
If you’re inspired to support Paul and Team UCSF Survive, give here.
Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Nassau/Suffolk community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiaries at swimacrossamerica.org/ns.
Kelly Lennon: A Full Circle Journey with Swim Across America
Long Island swimmers set to make waves against cancer for ‘Swim Across America’ event
Long Island swimmers set to make waves against cancer for ‘Swim Across America’ event
Long Island swimmers set to make waves against cancer for ‘Swim Across America’ event
Port Washington’s Swim Across America Team Hope raises $93K for cancer research
16-year-old swimmer completes 28-mile race around Manhattan
Making Waves Against Cancer: Hundreds Swim To Raise Nearly $1M At Glen Cove Event
Making Waves Against Cancer: Hundreds Swim To Raise Nearly $1M At Glen Cove Event
Glen Cove swim raises $950K for cancer research
Rockville Links youth swimmers raise funds for cancer research at Swim Across America event
Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Long Island Sound community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiaries, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Columbia University Cancer Center, Cancer Support Team, and Weill Cornell Medical Center, at swimacrossamerica.org/long_island.
From Heartbreak to Hope: Team Gina Makes Waves to Fight Cancer
Swim Across America – Long Island Sound Open Water Swim Makes Waves to Fight Cancer
33rd Annual Swim Across America – Long Island Sound
‘Swim Across America’ for a good cause
Swim Across America raises almost $2.1 million toward cancer research
Greenwich man swims across Long Island Sound to raise money to fight cancer
Swim Across America raises almost $2.1 million toward cancer research
From Heartbreak to Hope: Team Gina Makes Waves to Fight Cancer at 33rd Annual Swim Across America
Swim Across America – Long Island Sound Raises an Incredible $2+ Million for Cancer Research
Team John Surpasses $2 Million raised for Cancer Research
Video: Swim Across America Long Island Sound
Photos: Swim Across America Long Island Sound
Rye’s Adam Coe Completes 10K Swim Across Long Island Sound for Charity Event
Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Nantucket community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiaries, Nantucket Cottage Hospital, Palliative and Supportive Care of Nantucket, and Mass General Cancer Center, at swimacrossamerica.org/nantucket.
Natalie Thompson Makes Waves: How One Nantucket Family Lives the Swim Across America Mission
“Badge Of Honor” – Natalie Thompson Swims For Her Wife, Late Father
Swim Across America Nantucket Sets New Record With $1 Million Raised For Cancer Care, Research
Swim Across America returns to Jetties Beach Saturday
Nighttime News Update: Swim Across America – Nantucket
Making Waves: Natalie Thompson’s Mission to Fight Cancer, One Stroke at a Time
Charity swim returns to Nantucket’s Jetties Beach this weekend
When 13-year-old leukemia survivor Jane Hatch dives into one of this summer’s Swim Across America – Long Island Sound pool swims at Westchester County Country Club on July 12, she’ll be carrying on a family legacy that began more than three decades ago. Her grandfather, Frank Webers, helped launch the very first SAA – Long Island Sound charity swim in 1992 after sadly losing his wife, Kathleen “Kathy” Webers, to brain cancer at just 42. Only 17 swimmers took to the water that inaugural year. Today the event draws 800+ participants and is the largest Swim Across America event in the country, raising millions for cancer research and patient care.
Jane’s mother, June, is one of three daughters of Frank and Kathy Webers – April, May and June. While cancer has thankfully skipped her mother’s generation, Jane was diagnosed with leukemia at just six years old. Throughout the past seven years and through her treatment years, Jane has participated in supporting SAA – Long Island Sound any way she could – by selling lemonade and bake sales, and in 2019, her Mom June swam in her honor.
This year, Jane will swim in the Westchester Country Club pool swim on July 12. Her family has been comforted in knowing that a portion of the funds raised through SAA – Long Island Sound are going directly to Memorial Sloan Kettering, where Jane was treated.
“Jane is thriving because of breakthrough science and compassionate care, some of which has been funded directly through Swim Across America,” said June Hatch, Jane’s mother and member of Team Jane. “We swim, volunteer and donate to fund the next breakthroughs — especially for children who still face cancer with far fewer treatment options than adults.”
Only 4% of federal cancer-research dollars target childhood cancers. Swim Across America – Long Island Sound is hoping to change that and is directing 20% of proceeds from its open water and eight pool swims this year to pediatric-cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Kids and NewYork-Presbyterian Children’s Hospital through its KIDS Swimming FOR KIDS program.
To raise awareness and inspire young swimmers, Swim Across America will be offering a fun buy-one, give-one campaign offering supporters a chance to get a Dash the Dolphin, Swim Across America’s mascot’s plush toy for a $30 donation — for each plush toy purchased, a second plush toy will be gifted to a pediatric cancer patient at Memorial Sloan Kettering Kids and NewYork-Presbyterian Children’s Hospital through the swim’s KIDS Swimming FOR KIDS program.
Swim Across America