Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Motor City Mile community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiary, Rogel Cancer Center, at swimacrossamerica.org/detroit.
Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Denver community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiary, Children’s Hospital Colorado, at swimacrossamerica.org/denver.
Julie Brabbs Swim Across America – Motor City Mile 5 years supporting Swim Across America Age: 56
Julie Brabbs has a few important connections to Swim Across America and its mission.
Julie is the chief administrative officer at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center. She has a unique perspective on cancer as she supports the cancer center and its many missions daily.
In 2015, her job became much more meaningful when she was diagnosed with cancer. Being in the cancer field, Julie knew that innovative new treatments are the key to successfully treating the disease.
“Swim Across America’s grants to support clinical research and investigators are so, so important,” said Julie. “Cancer research funding is often hard to come by and the Swim Across America grants are necessary for making progress in breakthroughs like immunotherapy.”
Julie first attended the Swim Across America – Motor City Mile event in 2019, its inaugural year. She did so in honor of a friend who sadly had passed away from glioblastoma (brain cancer).
“At that time, I myself had cancer in 2015, but after standard treatment, I was in remission. Now, participating in the upcoming Swim Across America – Motor City Mile event has even more meaning as I am once again a cancer patient. My cancer came back in 2022 and I am currently taking Keytruda (an immunotherapy drug) as part of my treatment regimen, an option that wasn’t available in 2015 when I was first diagnosed.”
Julie thanks Swim Across America and its early-stage funding of Keytruda, which is now available to treat more than 30 different types of cancer, including Julie’s.
“Thanks to the hard work of Swim Across America, Keytruda was amazingly created in a Swim Across America lab. It’s amazing what swimming to raise money for cancer research can really do!”
This year, Julie is participating as a volunteer and SAA My Way participant, which means instead of swimming, she is doing other activities to raise funds to fight cancer. If you are moved to support Julie and Team Rogel, 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-Fairfield County community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiary, Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy, at swimacrossamerica.org/fc.
Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Charleston-Kiawah community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiary, Hollings Cancer Center, at swimacrossamerica.org/kiawah.
Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Tampa Bay community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiary, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, at swimacrossamerica.org/tampa.
Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Florida Keys community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiary, Miami Cancer Institute, at swimacrossamerica.org/floridakeys.
Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Nashville community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiary, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, at swimacrossamerica.org/nashville.
Michelle Deaton Swim Across America – Tampa Hometown: Wesley Chapel, Florida 2 years supporting Swim Across America Age: 50
Michelle Deaton has a lot to celebrate this year and she wanted to mark the occasion by doing something she had never done before.
“I turned 50 in March and I’m five years cancer free! What better way to celebrate than with a two-mile swim with Wyatt!”
Last year, Michelle was a proud supporter of her son, Wyatt, who swam 2 miles in the 2022 Swim Across America – Tampa event. He raised nearly $6,000 in her honor. This year, they are training – and raising funds – together. What makes their swim even more special is that the event falls on Mother’s Day weekend.
“I’m so excited that my mom is training to swim with me,” said Wyatt. “She keeps telling me she will swim faster than me and beat me back to the beach. I’m just proud that she is cancer-free, just celebrated her 50th birthday on March 26, and is going to be my swim partner for Swim Across America.”
Michelle is cancer-free but that doesn’t mean she will stop supporting Swim Across America. She is likely one of our most enthusiastic participants!
“I just love, love, love Swim Across America and all it stands for,” said Michelle Deaton. “I talk about the work that Swim Across America supports everywhere I go and to everyone. I’m Swim Across America’s biggest fan. I’m thrilled to be able to swim and be a part of such a great event that impacts the lives of so many. I’m a true believer that when you put your mind to something, it might not be easy, but I’m blessed as I have gone through something tough like a cancer diagnosis, and it made me realize even more how miraculous our bodies really are.”
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.
Susan McPherson was no stranger to Swim Across America, but her contributions were always in honor of other family members and friends who had cancer diagnoses. After a shocking diagnosis in December 2020, the reason to support Swim Across America-Nashville now became much more personal for Susan.
“I went to the doctor because I was experiencing new-onset shortness of breath and found out I was anemic. After additional tests, the doctors told me they found a large tumor and multiple metastases in my abdomen and that I had stage four colon cancer.”
Susan’s particular genetic profile made her a candidate for immunotherapy. She began treatment at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, which is the beneficiary of the Swim Across America-Nashville Pool Swim.
“In fact, the type of immunotherapy I was given – Keytruda – was developed in the Swim Across America funded lab at the Johns Hopkins Cancer Center! What an incredibly serendipitous moment it was when I realized that the treatment that could help save my life was initially funded through Swim Across America fundraising events.”
Susan received treatment for two years and is now cancer-free. And her participation in this year’s Swim Across America – Nashville event is that much more poignant.
Susan’s daughter-in-law, Chris, is one of the event directors and coaches at the Ensworth Natatorium where the event is held. Her son, John, is a cardiologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. For the second year, Chris and John will swim with their team “Chris’ Cancer Crushers” in their endeavor to “make waves to fight cancer.”
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.
Swim Across America 