Doug Bosley has completed some of the most challenging marathon swims in the world, including the cross-continental Hellespont Dardanelles swim, the Maui Channel swim, the Boston Harbor Swim and the St. Croix Reef swim. He has also participated in nearly 30 Swim Across America swims, including Boston and San Francisco.
While those swims were intense, Doug is now facing one of his toughest battles yet: beating acral lentiginous melanoma, a rare form of skin cancer that has sadly spread and metastasized. Despite his diagnosis, Doug’s sense of humor remains intact. He colors his story with anecdotes, punchlines and heartfelt emotion.
“In March 2024, I discovered a very tiny dot on my heel; it was no bigger than an eraser head. So I got it checked out and was diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer. Not exactly what you want to hear,” Doug shared lightheartedly.
Doug Bosley (back row, center) and Team Festivus at the 2023 Swim Across America – Boston open water swim.
Doug began treatment at Mass General Cancer Center, one of the beneficiaries of the Swim Across America – Boston community swim. The swim also supports Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Unfortunately, the cancer has quickly progressed and has spread to his liver and brain.
After initial treatments were unsuccessful, Doug was put on BRAF therapy, a combination of medicines that can shrink or slow the growth of metastatic melanoma in those whose tumors have a BRAF mutation. The treatment helped with his liver and lymph nodes but not his brain due to the blood-brain barrier.
He is currently being treated with two immunotherapy medicines – Yervoy and Opdivo – both which received early-stage grant funding from Swim Across America and are FDA approved for treating several different types of cancer.
“I’m doing ok, but the effects of my treatments are taking a toll,” said Doug. “My skin is incredibly sensitive, my feet are swollen to the point where it’s difficult to walk around, my head is foggy, and I have no saliva. But I’m sitting here, employed and engaged to be married – so that’s a good thing.”
Yes, Doug is engaged! After Doug was diagnosed, he proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Laura Lipcsei. The couple splits their time between their house in Somerville, Massachusetts, and the lake cabin they built together in Ontario, Canada.
“I said to Laura, ‘Now is the time to get married because I don’t know where I’ll be in a year,” joked Doug.
In addition to being thankful for Laura, Doug expresses his appreciation for his Swim Across America family, who have supported him through this journey.
Doug, back row center, participated in the 2009 Swim Across America – Boston Harbor swim.
“My Swim Across America family in Boston means everything to me. We started doing the swims as something fun to do together. Somewhere along the way, it became something more emotional. We’d swim, have fun, have a good cry, then come back the next year. Thirty years later and we’re still here,” shared Doug.
One member of Doug’s SAA-Boston swim group has helped him tremendously. Rick Osterberg, who himself is a cancer survivor and also received an immunotherapy pioneered with funding provided by Swim Across America, is Doug’s “cancer coach” and they swim together on Team Festivus.
“So between my wedding, turning 62 and the August 9 SAA-Boston swim, I’ve got a lot to look forward to this summer! I really want to be up there sharing my story with everyone who has supported me this past year.” said Doug.
If you’re inspired to support Doug and Team Festivus, give here.
Choi’s next generation CAR-T therapy, funded in part by SAA-Boston and SAA-Nantucket, has shown “dramatic and rapid” regression of glioblastoma
With early funding from Swim Across America – Boston and Swim Across America – Nantucket, Dr. Bryan Choi’s research on tandem CAR T-cell therapy for ependymoma was approved for a Phase I trial. The first human patient was infused at the end of April 2023. The results of the first human trials, as described in 2024 by the New England Journal of Medicine, showed “dramatic and rapid” regression of glioblastoma.
In an exclusive briefing to Swim Across America participants, Dr. Bryan Choi, a neurosurgeon and neuro-oncologist at Massachusetts General Cancer Center, delivered an update on his research path.
From left, brain tumors, marked by red and green arrows, disappear a day after CAR-T immunotherapy treatment. From CNN.
The Swim Across America lab visit included not only highlights from on the ongoing Phase I trial, but also a few first-hand stories about the life-changing impacts of the new CAR-T cell therapy for one of the patients, who has chosen to share his story publicly.
Tom Fraser (Patient #2) has shared his story publicly with news outlets that include CNN and New York Magazine.
Tom Fraser, 72, (center, in the blue shirt) was treated with a single infusion of CAR-T cells. Two days later, an MRI showed a decrease in the tumor’s size by 18.5 percent. By day 69, the tumor had decreased by 60.7 percent, and the response was sustained for over 6 months. From The Harvard Gazette.
CAR T-cell therapy, a type of gene therapy that engineers a patient’s own T-cells (a type of white blood cells) to identify and attack cancer cells by way of their antigen markers, has shown promise in the treatment of blood cancers. The research team created dual antigen-targeting tandem CAR T (TanCART) cells to target heterogeneous solid tumors. Dr. Choi’s research shows that this type of therapy can also be manipulated to treat solid tumors like ependymoma.
At the suggestion of Dr. Howard Weinstein, Unit Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Mass General for Children and long-time Swim Across America partner, Dr. Choi applied for a Swim Across America research grant through the internal competitive bid program at Mass General for Children.
Dr. Choi recruiting the next generation of researchers, like SAA – Nantucket supporter, Braden Hussey.
Without the Swim Across America grant, Dr. Choi said, his research likely would have remained unfunded, and neither the FDA approval nor the Phase I Study approval, which is funded by industry investors, would have been possible.
Janel Jorgensen McArdle, Chief Operating Officer of Swim Across America, pointed out that Dr. Choi’s research falls in the “sweet spot” of the high risk, high reward research that Swim Across America is pursuing.
“This promising research aligned perfectly with the opportunities that Swim Across America seeks to support,” said McArdle. “We are so excited that SAA funding could help accelerate it to patient trials – and are thrilled to see the benefits to patients!”
Dr. Choi explained CAR-T cell therapy to the Swim Across America group on April 4, 2025.
After his highly informative presentation, Dr. Choi gave the Swim Across America group a private tour of his lab spaces, which were in the finishing stages of build-out when they toured two years ago.
The group also got to visit the Ether Dome at Mass General, the surgical amphitheater where, in 1846, the first public surgery with anesthesia was performed.
It was an exciting visit for Swim Across America news and for all of the Swim Across America – Boston and Nantucket supporters who were present!
Swim Across America lab visit participants, pictured with Dr. Choi in the Ether Dome at Mass General, site of the first use of anesthesia in public surgery.
Revolutionary CRISPR Gene Editing and Other Cell and Gene Therapy Editing Takes Center Stage in Finding Ways to Effectively Treat Cancer
Swim Across America, the nonprofit funding innovative clinical trials and patient-centered programs for cancer,is proud to announce the award of two $450,000 grants to two of its beneficiaries, Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy(ACGT) and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, to support the work of novel gene and base editing techniques used in advanced cancer research, including targeted therapies, immunotherapies and cellular therapies. The two-year grants will specifically support the work of scientific investigators Joseph Fraietta, PhD, at the University of Pennsylvania through ACGT, and Pietro Genovese, PhD, at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, for their work in groundbreaking cell and gene therapy cancer research. This financial support paves the way for more effective therapies across many cancer types including solid tumors, offering potential new hope for patients with hard to treat cancer types or limited treatment options.
“Gene editing, including CRISPR, are some of the most promising frontiers in cancer research allowing for advances in targeted therapies, immunotherapies, CAR-T cell therapy and early/minimal residual disease detection, diagnostics and cancer vaccines,” said Rob Butcher, CEO of Swim Across America. “These grants to Dr. Fraietta through ACGT, and Dr. Genovese at Dana-Farber, will help accelerate the advancement of potential gene-edited cancer treatments that could transform how we treat patients and their quality of life. Just as our previous funding has helped develop immunotherapy treatments that are saving lives today, we believe these pointed investments will help accelerate the next generation of cancer breakthroughs.”
Joseph Fraietta, PhD
Joseph Fraietta, PhD, through Swim Across America–Fairfield County beneficiary Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy, is developing an innovative “off-the-shelf” cell therapy for aggressive cancers. His research uses a precise gene-editing tool called a “base editor” to create more effective CAR T cells that can target cancers with KRAS mutations, found in 20-25% of all cancers including lung, colon and pancreatic cancer. His team is also developing “micropharmacies” – immune cells engineered to release powerful cancer-fighting signals directly at tumor sites while minimizing side effects.
Pietro Genovese, PhD
Pietro Genovese, PhD, at Dana-Farber, is taking a revolutionary approach to treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Rather than targeting cancer cells directly, his team is creating “stealth” healthy blood cells engineered to survive cancer treatments while allowing the selective elimination of cancer cells. This innovative strategy could provide less toxic treatment options for AML and other blood cancers where traditional therapies often harm healthy cells along with cancerous ones.
“With the current funding landscape and resources potentially constrained, nonprofit organizations play a vital role in ensuring innovative cancer research moves forward,” said Evan Vosburgh, MD, Research and Grants committee chair for Swim Across America. “These targeted grants support precisely the kind of high-risk, high-reward research that could revolutionize cancer treatment, but might otherwise go unfunded. By supporting early-stage research in cell and gene therapy, we’re helping bridge critical funding gaps and accelerating the development of potentially life-saving treatments.”
Swim Across America has raised more than $100 million for cancer research since its founding in 1987 and has a strong track record of funding transformative research, including clinical trials that led to FDA-approved immunotherapy medicines Keytruda, Opdivo, Yervoy and Tecentriq. The organization was also a grant funder of Memorial Sloan Kettering’s landmark clinical trial that achieved a 100% success rate treating advanced rectal cancer patients with dostarlimab.
About Swim Across America Swim Across America hosts open water and pool swims in numerous communities nationwide, from Nantucket to under San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. More than 150 Olympians support the organization, including Michael Phelps, Kate Douglass, Missy Franklin and Ryan Lochte. The organization supports more than 60 cancer research projects annually and has ten named Swim Across America Labs at major institutions nationwide. To learn more visit swimacrossamerica.org or follow on social media @SwimAcrossAmerica on Facebook and @SAASwim on Instagram.
Swim Across America’s guiding principle is “money raised local, stays local.” It is a model that the organization takes great pride in and helps to deepen participants’ connection to the mission.
This connection is especially evident in communities like Swim Across America – Nantucket, which supports Nantucket Cottage Hospital and Palliative and Supportive Care of Nantucket (PASCON) on the island and Mass General Cancer Center in Boston, MA. The community grants are applied to local hospitals and patient care programs to benefit patients and families within their small, tight-knit island.
Duncan Richardson, a Newton, MA native, and his family have been seasonal visitors to Nantucket for over 36 years which makes it feel like their second home. Duncan joined the SAA – Nantucket community in 2021, and this year, he is swimming in the event for the first time!
Duncan always admired the organization and its mission which became more personal when he was diagnosed with stage four esophageal cancer in 2022. Little did he know how vital the organization’s mission would become to his own life.
Duncan Richardson shared his “Why I Swim” story at the 2023 Swim Across America – Nantucket community event.
“I am a bit of a medical miracle,” said Duncan. “Two years ago, after rapidly losing over 30 pounds, I was diagnosed with Stage IV esophageal cancer — a cancer with a very poor prognosis.”
Duncan received swift care and a treatment plan from his medical team, which included the immunotherapy drug Opdivo (nivolumab) and biweekly chemotherapy infusions.
Duncan and his care team at Nantucket Cottage Hospital where he received treatment for stage four esophageal cancer.
Swim Across America community swims granted funds to doctors and researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center who implemented clinical trials for nivolumab. The promising results from those trials led to the FDA-approval of Opdivo.
“Without Opdivo — and Swim Across America funding — I wouldn’t be here today. I’m incredibly humbled and grateful to anyone who had a part in bringing this research to fruition,” said Duncan.
And the fact that Duncan was able to receive local, easily accessible medical care had been invaluable.
“It is hard to overstate in my cancer journey how important to my wellbeing and that of my family the Nantucket Cottage Hospital professionals have been.” Duncan affirms.
“Their compassionate and quality care gives me and hundreds of other residents and visitors the most important thing you can have in battling cancer — HOPE!”
Duncan is excited for this year’s SAA-Nantucket event, where he will swim the half-mile course with his team, Strokes for Hope. His dedication to Swim Across America is seen with each stroke of his swim.
“That’s why we swim and raise the money for cancer research, the Nantucket Cottage Hospital infusion center and for PASCON. All our strokes are Strokes for Hope!”
“Without Opdivo — and Swim Across America funding — I wouldn’t be here today. I’m incredibly humbled and grateful to anyone who had a part in bringing this research to fruition,” said Duncan.
Rick Osterberg’s connection to Swim Across America was initiated similarly to that of so many other members of the Swim Across America community. It’s his journey over the last six years that sets him apart from many other participants.
Rick and his wife, Jessica Stokes, are lifelong swimmers, both swimming competitively in college and continuing to swim as USMS masters swimmers. They met during Masters workouts at Harvard University nearly 25 years ago. Their involvement with Swim Across America began about 15 years ago when they heard about the organization and knew many people involved in the Swim Across America – Boston community swim.
Although he admits that Jessica is the more dedicated swimmer, Rick has played several roles over the years eventually leading to a role on the local leadership committee for Swim Across America – Boston.
“I was an occasional walk-up volunteer for the Swim Across America – Nantasket swim whenever Jess was swimming it,” said Rick.
“I got much more involved when we launched the Swim Across America – Boston Relay Challenge at Harvard in 2012, acting as the emcee, DJ, and scoreboard person.”
Jessica Stokes and Rick Osterberg at the 2023 Swim Across America – Boston open water swim.
Rick remained a volunteer with Swim Across America – Boston for several years and took on an official role on the local committee in 2018. Jessica is also on the committee and leads their relationship with their beneficiaries, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and MassGeneral Children’s Cancer Center.
Their involvement took on more purpose in 2018, when Rick received a diagnosis of stage three colon cancer. While this deepened their connection to the Swim Across America mission, Rick didn’t see anything particularly extraordinary about his treatment plan.
Rick Osterberg with Pam Ryan, Swim Across America Board Chair, and Janel Jorgensen McArdle, Olympian and Swim Across America COO at the 2018 Swim Across America – Boston pool swim.
“In 2018, my perspective and Jess’ perspective on Swim Across America changed when I was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer. Suddenly, I was a patient. In 2018, I felt a much deeper connection to the overall mission of SAA, but not necessarily to any particular SAA beneficiary,” said Rick.
Rick’s diagnosis was, in his words, rather traditional though he was moved by the amount of support within his SAA-Boston community that year.
“It was deeply humbling to attend the 2018 Boston pool relay, during chemotherapy, and see so many people who were swimming for me,” said Rick.
“That event in 2018 remains one of the most moving experiences of my cancer journey. It was a huge boost to me, and a huge boost to Jess, during one of the harder phases of that treatment process. It also helped to turn a difficult experience into a hopeful direction through fundraising.”
Rick spent 2018 battling cancer with Jess at his side. He went through chemotherapy, chemo-radiation therapy, and finally surgery, and was in full remission by the end of the year.
They both looked forward to the April 2019 Swim Across America – Boston pool relay with Rick resuming his usual responsibilities as emcee and DJ. He added another “role” to his list that day – cancer success story.
Team Rick at the 2018 Swim Across America – Boston pool swim.
“I had beaten it, which was a great reason for many people to come and swim. It was an incredibly moving day and special because it ended up being our last pool relay before COVID,” said Rick.
The COVID-19 pandemic halted in-person events for 2020, which meant Rick and Jessica would miss out on the SAA-Boston event. Rick kept up with his routine scans and in June 2020, scans detected a small growth on a lymph node indicating his cancer had returned. Fortunately for Rick, FDA approval of a new immunotherapy drug had just been announced and it seemed like Rick was a great candidate for this new treatment.
Rick Osterberg and Jessica Stokes at the 2018 Swim across America – Boston pool swim. “I was in the middle of cycle 6 (of 8) of pretty hard chemotherapy. But we still found opportunities for joy, and the 2018 pool relay was one of those days of joy for both of us,” Rick shared.
“Suddenly, I was a candidate for Keytruda,” said Rick. “And the KEYNOTE-177 clinical trial results changed my cancer trajectory.”
“At this point, I’m now a Keytruda patient. I have virtually zero side-effects, and I have an incredibly high quality of life.”
Thanks to this new immunotherapy treatment, Rick’s cancer is virtually eliminated. He has avoided further surgical intervention that could carry significant risk of serious side effects or lower quality of life.
Rick’s commitment to Swim Across America was deepened when he realized the connection between the organization and the clinical trials that led to Keytruda’s FDA approval. The Swim Across America – Baltimore community swim benefits Johns Hopkins Medicine and grants from the 2015, 2016, and 2017 events funded groundbreaking research in immunotherapies, specifically PD-1 inhibitors. This research led to the FDA approval of Keytruda.
“After being part of an organization for so long, I was now a direct beneficiary of the research funded by SAA. I am one of a cohort of cancer patients who has experienced the necessary awfulness of chemotherapy, and the dramatically different journey on immunotherapy therapies,” shared Rick.
“I have been on my cancer journey for more than 6 years now, and in that short time, I have seen so many breakthroughs in treatment, but I also see so many cases where better options are needed for friends whose treatment paths are much more difficult than mine has been.”
Rick feels incredibly fortunate to be where he is on his cancer journey, thanks in part to research funded by Swim Across America. He feels hopeful about the next big breakthrough that will give hope to more patients and their families.
When reflecting on the vast differences between how his cancer was treated, Rick underscores his remarkably high quality of life, and why he and Jessica continue to support Swim Across America.
Rick served as emcee for the 2022 Swim Across America – Boston open water swim.
“Due in large part to research funded by Swim Across America, my cancer journey right now is not much more than an appointment on the calendar. My quality of life in treatment is virtually 100%,” said Rick.
“Perhaps more importantly our cancer journey (including Jess) is no big deal right now. Our quality of shared life is virtually 100%. That’s difficult to appreciate unless you’ve been through chemotherapy, or have been a close supporter of someone going through chemotherapy.”
Combined and over the years, Rick and Jessica have raised over $156,000 for Swim Across America.
If you are moved to support Rick and Jessica, click here.
Preliminary findings from the clinical trial are hopeful and show the promise of cell therapy for treating incurable conditions.
“The CAR-T platform has revolutionized how we think about treating patients with cancer, but solid tumors like glioblastoma have remained challenging to treat because not all cancer cells are exactly alike and cells within the tumor vary. Our approach combines two forms of therapy, allowing us to treat glioblastoma in a broader, potentially more effective way.” said Bryan Choi, MD, PhD, neurosurgeon and associate director of the Center for Brain Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Mass General Cancer Center and Department of Neurosurgery.
MRI results from a glioblastoma clinical trial that received initial grant funding from Swim Across America – Boston. The scans show tumor size before infusion (day -7) and after infusion (day 5).
Days after a single treatment, the three patients experienced dramatic reductions in their tumors, with one patient achieving near-complete tumor regression.
MRI scans conducted before and after treatment showed initial regression in tumor size. In time, the researchers observed tumor progression in these patients, but given the strategy’s promising preliminary results, the team will pursue strategies to extend the durability of response.
Dr. Choi expressed gratitude for the Swim Across America – Boston grant that made this research possible. Dr. Choi’s lab also receives funding from Swim Across America – Nantucket.
“Swim Across America directly supports my laboratory, which is dedicated to developing novel experimental immune therapies for patients with brain cancer. SAA funded a critical step in the early stage of discovery, allowing us to take on high risk projects that otherwise might not be possible.” said Dr. Choi.
“Without this type of support, my lab would not be able to develop or advance new therapies toward clinical studies like the one published here.”
Swim Across America – Boston and Swim Across America – Nantucket leadership teams visited Dr. Choi at Mass General Cancer Center in March 2023, just one month before the clinical trial was launched. During the visit, SAA leaders were treated to an informative presentation and lab tour from Dr. Choi.
During the tour, Janel Jorgensen McArdle, Chief Operating Officer of Swim Across America, pointed out that Dr. Choi’s research falls in the “sweet spot” of the high risk, high reward research that Swim Across America is pursuing.
“This promising research aligns perfectly with the opportunities that Swim Across America seeks to support. We are excited that SAA funding could help accelerate (this research) to patient trials.”
In March 2023, leaders from Swim Across America – Boston and Swim Across America – Nantucket visited Dr. Choi’s research lab at Mass General Cancer Center. Pictured: Michele Fox, Patty Gienke, Bob Hackett, Liam Hackett, Steven Laduzinski, Jamie Mannion, Janel Jorgensen McArdle, Alex Meyer, Rick Osterberg, Shep Perkins, Jill Roethke, Mike Ryan, Jessica Stokes, Kitty Tetreault.
Swim Across America’s grant agreement with beneficiaries, such as Mass General Cancer Center, requires that 100% of an SAA grant must be spent on approved research and clinical trial programs. Since 1987, SAA has granted over $100M to innovative and otherwise unfunded ideas so that the time of oncologists is protected to make progress and develop new treatments.
New Programs Offer Fun, Fresh, and Exciting Ways for College Students to Make a Bigger Impact With Swim Across America
College Swimming Coaches Association of America, Inc. and Vasa are proud partners of College Cup Competition
CHARLOTTE, N.C., September 26, 2023 – Swim Across America (SAA) is pleased to announce two new programs aimed at college students and college swim teams who want to make a bigger impact in their community through leadership, fundraising, and friendly competition. The Swim Across America College Cup features 30+ collegiate, club and alumni teams and more than 1,000 participants all united to make waves in the fight against cancer through swimming. The second program is the SAA College Ambassadorprogram where 21 college swimmers and ambassadors have been selected to represent Swim Across America throughout the school year to help raise awareness on the importance of making waves to fight cancer. Both programs are supported through partnerships with College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) and Vasa, the fitness training company for swimmers.
Swim Across America College Cup
Through December 1, 2023, college or college-affiliated swim teams will compete in the Swim Across America College Cup, a fundraising competition among collegiate teams in the U.S. Teams can participate by registering for one of Swim Across America’s open water charity swims, joining or starting a pool swim, or participating virtually through the SAA My Way program. Participants must be affiliated with a U.S-based college or university to be eligible to compete in the College Cup. Teams may consist of current college students, alumni or a mix of both, and can be as small as one person.
To date, more than 30 teams consisting of 1,000 participants are currently enrolled in the College Cup’s inaugural year. As the college swim season peaks, Swim Across America expects those numbers to increase and encourages teams, clubs and alumni groups who want to join to do so at swimacrossamerica.org/collegecup.
Members of the Emory University Swim and Dive team at the 2023 SAA-Atlanta event.
Members of the Providence College swim and dive teams at the 2023 SAA-Rhode Island event.
“One of the exciting aspects of the Swim Across America College Cup program is that it offers a new way for alumni to stay engaged with their college swim teams,” noted John O’Neill, head coach of the Providence College men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs and a long-time participant in Swim Across America open water swims. “It allows them to lead the next generation of athletes in the swimming world and instill a philanthropic mindset.”
Fundraising by the College Cup teams will support cancer research and clinical trials in the community in which teams register to swim. If teams are participating in a national pool swim, funds support the Swim Across America pediatric cancer research fund. Swim Across America offers 24 open water swims across the country and hundreds of pool swims each year.
The College Cup brings several exciting partnerships to Swim Across America, including the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) and Vasa, a fitness and rehabilitation company focused on peak performance for swimmers, surfers and triathletes.
As part of their partnership, CSCAA will recognize the top individual College Cup fundraiser at their annual awards ceremony.
“We are thrilled to rejuvenate the partnership between Swim Across America and the CSCAA,” said Samantha Barany, executive director of CSCAA. “The philanthropic efforts of Swim Across America are impressive and impact nearly everyone in some way with the fight against cancer. The open water events hosted by Swim Across America are an excellent opportunity for our college teams and athletes to engage in charitable endeavors within a familiar and loved environment – the water. We will continue to find more ways to collaborate and I believe this is just the beginning!”
Vasa will award a Vasa Trainer Pro model to two participating teams. One will be awarded to the top College Cup fundraising team and the second will be awarded to a randomly selected team participating in the College Cup. All teams have the opportunity to win through their participation.
Swim Across America College Ambassadors
Swim Across America is also excited to announce another new college initiative, the Swim Across America College Ambassadors program. College Ambassadors will be the face of Swim Across America at their college or university and lead efforts to raise awareness of Swim Across America’s mission to fund cancer research, clinical trials and patient programs by hosting charity swims. College Ambassadors are passionate about Swim Across America and help engage their peers, promote the Swim Across America mission and brand, and encourage their local communities’ involvement.
Earlier this year, Swim Across America invited college students to apply for the Swim Across America College Ambassadors program. Applicants were asked to share why they are passionate about Swim Across America, highlight any previous leadership experience, and outline their aspirations for participating in the program. More than 30 applications were reviewed by a Swim Across America selection committee and 21 college students were selected to be College Ambassadors for 2023. Students selected represent colleges across the country, including University of South Florida, Roger Williams University and Northeastern University.
Beyond their role as ambassadors, these students also serve as team captains for teams participating in the College Cup or any Swim Across America event. To learn about the Swim Across America College Ambassador program, visit swimacrossamerica.org/ambassadors.
Swim Across America was founded in 1987 with its first open water event in Long Island Sound. Since that time, the nonprofit organization has raised more than $100 million to fight cancer. In its 36 years of making waves to fight cancer, more than 100,000 swimmers and 150 Olympians have swum the circumference of the earth three times, uniting a movement to fight cancer that has created a groundswell of support spanning all generations. Today, more than 24 communities hold open water swims and hundreds of charity pool swims each year, from Nantucket to under the Golden Gate Bridge, which support innovative cancer research, detection and patient programs.
Swim Across America’s funding of clinical trials for patients helped contribute to four FDA approved life-saving immunotherapy cancer treatments: Yervoy, Opdivo, Tecentriq and Keytruda. In June of last year, a clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering was published in The New England Journal of Medicine that showed a 100 percent success rate in treating patients in a phase 2 clinical trial for advanced rectal cancer with dostarlimab, an immunotherapy treatment produced by GlaxoSmithKline. The clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering was funded by early-stage grant funding from Swim Across America. More than 60 scientific grants are funded each year and there are now ten dedicated Swim Across America Labs at major institutions including: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, John Hopkins Medicine Atlanta, Rush University Medical Center Chicago, Baylor Scott & White Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center in Dallas, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York, Infusion Center at Nantucket Cottage Hospital, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland and San Francisco, the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, The Swim Across America Pediatric Research Lab at Columbia University Medical Center New York, and The Swim Across America Laboratory at Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine.
About Swim Across America
Swim Across America, Inc. (SAA) is dedicated to raising money and awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment through swimming-related events. With the help of hundreds of volunteers nationwide and past and current Olympians, Swim Across America is helping find a cure for cancer through athleticism, community outreach and direct service. To learn more visitswimacrossamerica.org or follow on Facebook @SwimAcrossAmerica or on Instagram or Twitter @SAASwim.
About CSCAA
Founded in 1922, the CSCAA is the nation’s first professional coaching association for intercollegiate athletics. The CSCAA boasts more than 2,000 member coaches and assistant coaches, recognizes All-American swimmers and divers, NCAA record-breakers and Scholar All-America athletes and teams, as well as outstanding coaches and contributors, and helps oversee the welfare of collegiate swimming and diving. Learn more about CSCAA at cscaa.org.
About Vasa
Vasa empowers swimmers, surfers and triathletes to become stronger, better, faster in sports, fitness and injury rehab. Vasa offers specific equipment such as swim ergometers, trainers, sport benches and other accessories to provide athletes with safe, effective training methods. Founded by Rob Sleamaker, an acclaimed exercise physiologist and author, who has worked with Olympians, biathletes and triathletes as well as some of the world’s most respected swim coaches to reinvent their training practices. Learn more about Vasa at vasatrainer.com.
Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Boston community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiaries, MassGeneral Cancer Center and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at swimacrossamerica.org/boston.
Swim Across America 