Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Chicago community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiary, Rush Medical Center, at swimacrossamerica.org/chicago.
Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Chicago community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiary, Rush Medical Center, at swimacrossamerica.org/chicago.
In 1994, Swim Across America – Chicago debuted as a 6-mile relay swim in beautiful Lake Michigan and raised $15,000. Since then, the annual community event has grown to raise more than $5 million for their local beneficiaries.
On Saturday, August 3, hundreds of swimmers, volunteers, and supporters will gather at beautiful Lake Michigan to celebrate 30 years of Making Waves to Fight Cancer! Proceeds from the event support cancer research at Rush Medical Center.
For some swimmers, like 14-year-old Alondra Beening, it will be their first time diving into the lake on a meaningful and inspiring day. For others, like Mary McCullagh and Mary Holloway, the day represents a three decade long commitment to the Swim Across America mission.
“I swam at our first swim in 1994 and I’ve had the privilege of watching the community’s support grow over the years,” shared Mary McCullagh.
Mary credits a community of “doers and givers” for the success and longevity of Swim Across America – Chicago. Her family first became involved not because they had a personal connection to the cause, but because they grew up with a servant leadership mindset.
Mary McCullagh, center, at the inaugural Swim Across America – Chicago event in 1994.
“I have 10 brothers and sisters and we were taught to recognize a need and do something to help. Whether it is time, talent, or effort, we can all do something good in this world,” said Mary M.
“Even when I didn’t live in Chicago, my band of siblings helped to keep our support going. This event has been successful for 30 years thanks to this community of leaders who all want to do good.”
Mary Halloway’s involvement began 29 years ago as a passerby supporting her brother, Russ. Russ was an endurance swimmer who swam at SAA-Chicago and became the resident “event day chef” preparing food and snacks for the swimmers on the morning of the event.
Mary Halloway joins Swim Across America – Chicago for the 12th year this year. She was introduced to the organization by her brother, Russ Haffner.
“I started riding my bike down the lakefront to see him swim, and I would scream ‘Go, Russ!’ every time his arm was raised as he swam,” Mary H. said. “I don’t know how, but somehow he heard me every time, and he’d give me a wave on each stroke.”
Unfortunately, Russ passed away a few months after a lymphoma diagnosis in 2011. The SAA-Chicago leadership team knew they wanted his memory to live on so they created a special award to recognize outstanding community members, named the Russ Haffner Award.
Mary’s connection to SAA-Chicago became more personal when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2010. She was treated at Rush with chemotherapy and a hysterectomy, and was given the all-clear in early 2011. Though she wasn’t a natural swimmer, Mary was determined to swim at SAA-Chicago and honor her brother’s memory. This year will be her 12th year participating in the event.
The 30th annual event will also recognize rookie participants – those who are swimming for the first time!
Alondra Beening has watched her dad, Mark Beening, swim at SAA-Chicago for the last 10 years and this year, at 14 years old, she will join him as a 1-mile swimmer. Alondra has been swimming her whole life and on a swim team since she was eight years old. She’s excited to join her dad and honor their loved ones through the community swim.
“She’s always wanted to swim with me since she was younger, and we are so happy to finally have this opportunity – and it is my 10th year swimming so it’s really special” shared Mark. “Unfortunately, we have had friends and family members who have been diagnosed with cancer, some of which we have lost. We want to dedicate this swim to them.”
Swim Across America – Chicago is led by co-event directors, Alyse Mauro Mason and Katie Marchetti. Both have watched not only the community support grow, but also the waves of impact the event has had on the local beneficiaries.
“Our event has supported Rush since 2012 and we’re proud to have donated more than $2 million to the cancer center here in Chicago,” said Alyse.
Co-event director, Alyse Mauro Mason, right, presented the 2023 Russ Haffner Award to Cathi McNamara at the 2023 SAA-Chicago event.
“Swim Across America – Chicago grants early-stage research and helps doctors begin and continue research that may be on the brink of a breakthrough,” Alyse continued. “We often hear that our doctors have received additional grants or NIH funding thanks to the findings and outcomes they have gathered from a project we have funded.”
SAA-Chicago hosted their fourth annual golf outing in June 2024 at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club. The event also raises funds for Rush Medical Center and will celebrate its fifth year on June 16, 2025.
In fact, in 2022, the NIH honored Rush physician scientist Dr. Faraz Bishehsari with the Director’s Transformative Research Award, which includes funding for his innovative pancreatic cancer research. The award, one of the NIH’s most prestigious and exclusive, is given to “exceptionally creative” scientists proposing high-risk, high-impact research. Dr. Bishehsari’s research was also supported by our Swim Across America – Chicago charity swim.
Though the swim course has changed – and the number of participants has grown exponentially – one thing remains: Swim Across America – Chicago is a community dedicated to Making Waves to Fight Cancer year after year.
Register to swim or volunteer at the August 3 Swim Across America – Chicago open water swim, or donate at swimacrossamerica.org/chicago.
Read more stories about Swim Across America – Chicago here.
Andy Rieger Swim Across America – Houston Age: 50 Years supporting SAA: 5
Andy Rieger has always had a love of water. In fact, he grew up swimming competitively from age 5 to 22.
“I competed at swim meets at Youngstown State University and at the Trumbull County YMCA. Then, I swam for four years at West Point, where I was the swim team captain my senior year,” Andy said.
Andy then “took off for a few decades” and started running to stay active. Injuries and encouragement from his wife led him back home to swimming.
“A few knee surgeries into my running days and Jordana, my wife, encouraged me to get back in the water. I did and discovered open water swimming.”
Then in 2012, the Rieger family’s world was turned upside down when Jordana was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer.
“We were living overseas when she was diagnosed. Since I was in the oil and gas industry, we were able to come back to Houston,” he said.
Rieger family and friends on Team Rae in SAA-Houston.
The family settled back in Houston and Jordana was treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Jordana received multiple treatments and procedures including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. After a six-year battle, Jordana passed away in 2018.
“Jordana endured more than I thought was possible. She fought with everything she had. During this time so many people supported our family with kindness, generosity, and in other ways that I can never repay them personally,” said Andy.
“I never really grasped how many people’s lives are impacted daily by cancer until my family was immersed in the battle with Jordana.”
After Jordana passed, Andy sought a way to give back to the community that gave him so much during their difficult times.
Andy and family at the 2019 Swim Across America – Houston event.
“In late 2018, I stumbled upon Swim Across America, which was planning its inaugural swim in Houston for April 2019. I wanted to honor Jordana and pay it forward to all those who supported my family. Swim Across America was a perfect match for the two things I was passionate about: fighting cancer and swimming.”
Andy formed his team, Team Rae, and they have swum at every Swim Across America – Houston event since 2019. Funds raised at the SAA-Houston event are granted to researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
In late 2021, cancer hit home again when Andy’s brother, Matt, was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer and passed away shortly after his diagnosis at age 50. Matt lived in Chicago, home to another Swim Across America event, so Andy set out to make waves in another city.
“Swimming again was the perfect way to honor Matt and continue to support the fight against cancer in another city, this time in Chicago, where Matt lived.”
“Matt was only 18 months older than me. We grew up together and were teammates (sometimes co-conspirators) on all kinds of adventures as kids. We were even teammates on our local age group swim team. Since 2022, I’ve added the SAA-Chicago open water swim to my annual swim calendar as well.”
Andy swims in honor of Jordana Rieger, his wife, and Matt Rieger, his brother.
In total, his teams in Houston and Chicago have raised more than $75,000.
Through difficult times, Andy has found a welcoming and supportive community through Swim Across America. And Team Rae grew to include friends and family whose lives have been touched by cancer.
“I have recruited my family members to join me as swimmers or volunteers, including my oldest brother Thad, and my father Gil, who have both had their own battles with cancer in recent years. My mother Casey, sister Amy, my daughters, nieces, nephews and some friends, all come together to support this important and meaningful cause.”
Andy and Kristen at the 2023 Swim Across America – Chicago event.
Andy’s involvement with Swim Across America has brought waves of happiness, as well! Last year, a former swim teammate, Kristen Paternina, joined Team Rae in Houston. Andy and Kristen hadn’t seen each other for almost 30 years and reconnected at the event.
“Kristen and I swam together on our local YMCA swim team in northeastern Ohio. We hadn’t seen each other since the early 1990’s and we reconnected at SAA-Houston in April 2022. We have been together ever since and just bought a house together this past summer.”
If you are moved to support Andy and Team Rae, you can donate here.
Swim Across America has raised $100 million since its inception in 1987 to support cancer research and clinical trials across the U.S. Please contact Jeni Howard at jhoward@jhowardpr.com for media inquiries.
Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Chicago community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiary, Rush University Cancer Center at swimacrossamerica.org/chicago.
Patty Brummet Swim Across America – Chicago 20 years supporting Swim Across America Age: 77
When you talk to Patty Brummet, she brings up many numbers that all have significant meaning.
197,000: Dollars she has raised for Swim Across America during her many years of supporting the nonprofit organization.
750: Miles she will bike from New York City to Raleigh, North Carolina, on Sept. 18 – Oct. 4. This is her 9th bike trek across the country.
294: Number of names she will wear on her swim cap and cycling jersey – each in honor or memory of a loved one or friend who battled cancer.
21.5: Miles she has swam in Lake Michigan at the Swim Across America Chicago open water swim.
20: Years she has swam and 10 years biked to fund a cure.
12: August 12th Swim Across America Chicago open water swim – and Patty’s 20th year she will be participating!
And when talking about her 20th year, another number comes up.
“This year I dedicate my ride and swim for five very special friends – in honor of Eileen, Leslie, Dave and Steve, who are currently battling cancer, and in memory of Berta.”
Patty feels gratitude and appreciation for every single person who has donated to her and her team, Team Life, over the years. Those friends and family members, co-workers and sometimes even strangers, are the ones who keep her motivated to bike and swim her way across the country.
“Every dollar allows research to continue to find the next miracle drug or treatment for patients like my friends,” said Patty “The money you donate today ensures that cancer research will continue, and lives will be saved. My four friends are alive today because of donors to our cause.”
Patty says it has been her lifelong dream to bike across the country and she’s found a sense of purpose in each mile. To do so for Swim Across America is even more poignant, as the organization was founded in 1987 with its very first swim, but before swimming became the mechanism to raise funds for cancer research, the founders of the organization, Matt Vossler and Jeff Keith, ran across the country.
When asked why these bike treks and swims are so meaningful to her and why she continues after all these years, Patty shares a simple response.
“Thirteen years after my dad’s death I still honor the promise I made to him the night he died – to bike across America,” noted Patty. “We never discussed the route I would take so I kept riding.”
Patty shares stories about each of her friends and their personal battles with cancer on her personal fundraising page. Read their stories and donate to Patty and Team Life here.
Swim Across America has raised $100 million since its inception in 1987 to support cancer research and clinical trials across the U.S. Please contact Jeni Howard at jhoward@jhowardpr.com for media inquiries.
With the support of Swim Across America grant funding, researchers at Rush University Medical Center are gaining momentum in their quest to discover the early detection tools and treatment options of the future in the fight against cancer. RUSH’s experts intimately understand the physical, emotional and financial burdens of cancer on patients’ lives, and they refuse to let the disease rest as the second leading cause of death in the U.S. Since 2012, Swim Across America–Chicago has awarded More than $2M that has funded these early stage research projects.
Dr. Carl Maki
Grant Recipient: Carl Maki, PhD Professor in the Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology at Rush Medical College
Project: Targeting proteins to improve drug responses for patients with treatment-resistant breast and lung cancers
Project Details: By studying cancer at the molecular level, Maki and his team have made significant strides in identifying promising new options for treatment-resistant breast and lung cancers.
In 2015 Maki received an SAA grant to study a family of enzymes known as prolyl peptidases (which regulate blood pressure and appetite) as a possible mechanism to help prevent or alleviate resistance to the drug tamoxifen, one of the most widely used therapies for the 80% of women with breast cancer whose tumors are considered estrogen receptor-positive. Maki and his team found that an enzyme inhibitor for prolyl peptidases, used in conjunction with tamoxifen, effectively killed breast cancer cells in rodents. Using these promising findings, Maki applied for and received a prestigious R01 research award for continued study from the National Institutes of Health and a grant from the Department of Defense to extend this research into triple-negative breast cancer.
In 2020 Maki was awarded another SAA grant to study proteins called histone demethylases in non-small cell lung cancer. Among the deadliest of all cancers, this accounts for about 4 in 5 lung cancer cases. Maki and his colleagues are studying how these proteins may allow lung cancer cells to resist the drugs currently used to treat the disease. By blocking these proteins, the team has been able to kill lung cancer cells in laboratory studies and lung tumors in mice. They identified a novel mechanism for how these inhibitors improve treatment outcomes and recently published their results.
“What starts out as an idea might result in something great,” Maki said. “SAA gives less established researchers a chance and helps all researchers fund pilot projects that ultimately can lead to bigger things.”
Dr. Animesh Barua
Grant Recipient: Animesh Barua, PhD Associate Professor in the Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology at Rush Medical College Director of the Proteomics Core and MicroRNA and Gene Expression Core
Project: Seeking an improved early detection test for ovarian cancer
Project Details: Throughout his career, Barua has relentlessly pursued the development of an effective early detection test for ovarian cancer. With an SAA grant received in 2020, he and his team are drawing upon extensive experience with immunoassays and ultrasound imaging of ovarian tumors to take the next steps forward in this important area of research. In this study, Barua’s lab is developing a fresh approach to early detection testing involving the fimbriae (fingerlike protein branches that guide an egg during ovulation) of the fallopian tubes. Emerging information shows that high-grade serous carcinoma — the most malignant and most common type of ovarian cancer — originates from the fimbriae. The aims of Barua’s study include identifying specific protein markers associated with cancer development in the fimbriae and determining the efficacy of these markers in predicting cancer growth.
Dr. Amanda Marzo
Grant Recipient: Amanda Marzo, PhD Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Cell Therapy at Rush Medical College
Project: Bolstering the body’s natural immune response for greater success in the battle against breast cancer
Project Details: Tumor-infiltrating CD8 T-cells are essential for tumor immunity. However, many of these cells become exhausted and are unable to protect against tumor growth. Key molecules known as checkpoint inhibitors, such as programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expressed on tumor cells and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) expressed on CD8 T-cells, have been shown to be a hallmark of CD8 T-cell exhaustion. For most tumors, blocking PD-1/PD-L1 signaling does not result in tumor rejection. A main cause for the ineffectiveness of checkpoint blockade immunotherapy lies in the dysfunctional state of CD8 T-cells once they enter the tumor. CD8 T-cells are specialized in killing tumor cells but face multiple suppressive signals that dampen their ability to effectively respond. Using an SAA grant received in 2019,Marzo and her colleagues seek to improve scientists’ understanding of how other immune-modulating treatments can improve CD8 T-cell responsiveness to checkpoint inhibitors. Specifically, the researchers aim to determine if metformin, an anti-diabetic drug, could enhance tumor-infiltrating CD8 T-cell responsiveness to PD-1 blockade therapy by altering breast cancer metabolism. The team also seeks to establish if bolstering the number of infiltrating CD8 T-cells into the tumor using interleukin-15 complexes (known to cause proliferation of cells and increase their killing ability) in combination with PD-1 blockade therapy could induce regression of established breast tumors and lead to long-term tumor immunity. Marzo and her team plan to publish the results of their study and are using preliminary data generated from this research to apply for a federal R21 grant.
Dr. Alan Blank
Grant Recipients: Alan T. Blank, MD, MS Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Section of Orthopedic Oncology at Rush Medical College
Jitesh Pratap, PhD Associate Professor in the Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology at Rush Medical College
Dr. Jitesh Pratap
Project: Pursuing therapeutic approaches to prevent breast cancers from
metastasizing to the bones
Project Details: In this study funded by a 2019 SAA grant, Blank and Pratap seek to fulfill a need for the development of a therapy that can prevent primary breast cancers from metastasizing to the bones and surviving there. The researchers hypothesize, based on results of previous studies, that a subgroup of patients with breast cancer that has metastasized to the bone has high levels of autophagy (a process of recycling of cellular components), Runx2 proteins and acetylated α-tubulin — worsening their chances of survival. To investigate this, the researchers are working to determine the clinicopathologic association with the autophagy pathway in tumor samples from patients with cancer that has metastasized to the bone. They are also creating patient-derived xenograft models of bone metastasis. Blank and Pratap hope the results of this study will propel the development of better combinatorial therapeutic approaches to treat bone metastasis.
Dr. Faraz Bishehsari
Grant Recipient: Faraz Bishehsari, MD, PhD Associate Professor of Medicine & the Graduate College in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, Section of Gastroenterology at Rush Medical College Associate Director for Molecular & Translational Research for the Rush Center for Integrated Microbiome & Chronobiology Research
Project: Pursuing precision medicine to improve outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients
Project Details: Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma — the most common form of pancreatic cancer — face poor survival rates, with only 6%-8% of patients surviving five years after diagnosis. This cancer does not respond well to targeted therapies. Bishehsari and his colleagues received an SAA grant in 2019 to establish a platform towards precision medicine in order to tailor therapies based on patients’ individual tumor characteristics. The researchers have developed primary cancer cells from a small tissue sample obtained during diagnostic pancreatic biopsies from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. Molecular profiling of these patient-derived tumor organoids explained the variation in response to a variety of conventional and investigational therapies. They are optimizing this platform to help eventually establish individualized treatments for pancreatic cancer patients.
Dr. Jeff Borgia
Grant Recipient: Jeffrey A. Borgia, PhD Associate Professor in the Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology at Rush Medical College Director of the Rush University Cancer Center Biorepository and Rush Biomarker Development Core
Project: Identifying biomarkers for the improved evaluation and treatment of stage I non-small cell lung cancer
Project Details: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States, but evidence is surfacing that widespread lung cancer screening programs may improve patient outcomes when the disease is detected early. Borgia and his team received an SAA grant in 2020 to develop a new diagnostic method to improve physicians’ ability to predict the recurrence of stage I non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC. This would help physicians identify patients who would benefit from adjuvant treatment options or closer surveillance. The aims of this study include identifying biomarkers for disease recurrence in stage I NSCLC patients and evaluating these biomarkers for their value in predicting recurrence.
Swim Across America has supported cancer research at Rush University Medical Center since 2012 through more than $2 million in grant funding. Together, Swim Across America and RUSH are relentlessly fighting cancer, working to save lives.
Again this year, we’re offering an exciting opportunity to show your love for SAA and win a $100 SwimOutlet.com gift card. Enter by tagging @saaswim and @swimoutlet in your SAA – spirited photos from event day and we’ll pick the best one from each open water swim. Grab your friends and family and show us the best the SAA community has to offer like these winners!
Back again this year, we have partnered with SwimOutlet for a social media photo contest for all of our open water swims! All summer, we’re offering an exciting opportunity to show your love for SAA and win a $100 SwimOutlet.com gift card. Enter by tagging @saaswim and @swimoutlet in your photo from your swim and we’ll pick the best one. Grab your friends and family and show us the best the SAA community has to offer!
Swim Across America celebrated the end of the year across the country by presenting checks to our esteemed beneficiaries. Here is a collection of smiling faces as the hard fundraising work is now seeing its impact multiplied in the fight against cancer.
Swim Across America 