Swimmers, Boaters, Volunteers Make Waves in the Fight Against Cancer

ISLAMORADA, Fla., February 22, 2024 — Swim Across America – Florida Keys is #makingwaves to #fightcancer! Celebrating its 3rd year, this year’s swim will be held Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Founders Park in Islamorada, Florida. There are several swim distances available: half-mile, one-and-a-half mile and two-mile, plus a fun Kids’ Splash! Boaters, kayakers, paddle boarders, and land volunteers participate in this inspirational event. To register as a swimmer or a volunteer, or to donate, visit swimacrossamerica.org/floridakeys.

Why does Swim Across America – Florida Keys swim to raise money in the fight against cancer? Cancer sadly touches everyone — whether it is a loved one or a friend, everyone knows someone who has been impacted by cancer. 

In 2024, For the first time ever, the United States is expected to surpass more than 2 million new cases of cancer and 611,720 cancer deaths. These staggering statistics offer compelling proof of the need to continue devising new approaches to treatment. In fact, there are more than 18 million Americans with a history of invasive cancer who are alive today, who were diagnosed many years ago or now have no current evidence of the disease, thanks to new treatments. Whether it is through swimming, volunteering, donating or cheering on loved ones and friends, Swim Across America – Florida Keys welcomes anyone and everyone who wants to be a part of the fight against cancer. 

Funds raised by Swim Across America – Florida Keys go directly to support cancer research and patient care programs at Miami Cancer Institute. To date, Swim Across America – Florida Keys has donated more than $110,000 to Miami Cancer Institute. 

“The Swim Across America – Florida Keys open water swim is such an inspiring event,” said Glenn Latham, event director of the Swim Across America – Florida Keys open water swim.

“The gathering of so many families and so many individuals who are honoring those who are special to them is incredible — whether they are currently battling it out, or survivors or have lost someone. To hear the stories and to learn about those whom cancer has touched and to experience that love is just palpable. The feeling of wanting to make a change and to do something for those who have experienced cancer is huge.”

Glenn Latham knows the impact of raising funds for cancer research first-hand. He is a cancer survivor himself after being diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 53 in 2008. Receiving a cancer diagnosis in his early 50’s wasn’t actually a surprise to Glenn – cancer has impacted his family with both of his parents and two out of his three siblings all battling cancer. Glenn’s father also battled prostate cancer and his mother passed away at the young age of 48 from breast cancer – a disease that also impacted two of his sisters, one who succumbed to the disease, and the other is a survivor, like Glenn. Today, Glenn at age 69, after five years of cancer treatment, is celebrating being 12 years cancer-free! In addition to running the Keys event, he is also a swimmer and has swam in the event each year.

“Fortunately, due to lots of prayer, family support and modern technology I am in remission,” said Glenn Latham. “As a cancer survivor, I subsequently was involved in several cancer causes prior to moving to The Keys. My love of swimming led to the chance meeting with a local swimmer and Swim Across America board member who shared the mission of Swim Across America. My wife and I were immediately interested, and together we decided to organize a Swim Across America open water swim in the Florida Keys. I believe we need to expand cancer research, and the funding that Swim Across America and our swim generates is of huge value. It is particularly gratifying meeting and working with key members of the local medical research institution, Swim Across America staff, swim Olympians and local community supporters. Please come out and join us on April 20th! It’s fun for all ages!”

Swim Across America is a national organization and offers open water and pool swims in 24 communities, from Boston Harbor to under the Golden Gate Bridge. Founded in 1987, Swim Across America has raised more than $100 million in the fight against cancer. 

Swim Across America’s funding of the research and clinical trials for patients helped contribute to four FDA approved life-saving immunotherapy cancer treatments: Yervoy, Opdivo, Tecentriq and Keytruda. Swim Across America is also a grant funder of the successful clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering that was published in The New England Journal of Medicine and 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. Swim Across America awards grant to more than 60 projects each year and there are ten named Swim Across America Labs at major institutions including: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, John Hopkins Medicine Baltimore, 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, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, The Swim Across America Pediatric Research Lab at Columbia University Medical Center New York, and at Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine.

More than 150 Olympians support Swim Across America, including Michael Phelps, Craig Beardsley (who was inducted into the International Swimmer’s Hall of Fame in 2022), Donna De Varona, Rowdy Gaines, Janel Jorgensen McArdle, Bobby Hackett, Ryan Lochte, Glenn Mills, Cristina Teuscher and many more.

To learn more about Swim Across America – Florida Keys or to register to swim, volunteer or donate, visit swimacrossamerica.org/floridakeys.

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 visit swimacrossamerica.org, swimacrossamerica.org/floridakeys or follow on Facebook or Instagram @saafloridakeys or email glenn@swimacrossamerica.org.