Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Charlotte community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiary, Levine Cancer Institute and Levine Children’s Hospital, at swimacrossamerica.org/charlotte.
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.
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.
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.
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.
From a young age, Kelly Lennon was always driven to make an impact in her community. In high school, Kelly swam with her school team and joined Swim Across America – Nassau/Suffolk. Nearly a decade later, Kelly returned to Swim Across America as a coach and helped raise more than $40,000.
“In December 2016, I was honored for my fundraising efforts with a Proclamation from the Town of Huntington, New York, by Legislator Susan Berland,” shared Kelly. “After I graduated high school, I knew I’d come back to Swim Across America because it was that important to me.”
Kelly may have physically “left” for college, but her passion for Swim Across America still tugged at her heart. It wasn’t until eight years later that Kelly found her way back to Swim Across America to rejoin the fight to cure cancer.
“I graduated from college and took a job at the Huntington YMCA coaching an age group team called the Bluefish,” shared Kelly. “I couldn’t wait to bring my joy for SAA to this new bunch of kids in our community.”
With the help of the SAA National and SAA-Nassau/Suffolk local committee, Kelly started the Huntington Y Bluefish SAA Pool Swim. Together, the team quickly exceeded their original $10,000 goal and raised over $40,000 for their beneficiaries: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the Feinstein Institute at Northwell Health, MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital, and SHARE Cancer Support.
“What a full circle moment for me! Supporting this organization as an adult, with my team of young swimmers, brought back so many memories,” said Kelly.
The fight to find a cure never changed, but Kelly’s personal growth over eight years fed her passion and fueled her fire to fight cancer.
“I support Swim Across America because cancer has deeply affected my family. Some of my loved ones have survived, while others have, sadly, passed away,” shared Kelly.
“I swim in memory of those we’ve lost and in support of those still fighting. This cause is personal to me—every stroke is a tribute to their strength, courage, and the hope that, through continued research, we can find better treatments and ultimately a cure. That’s what motivates me to raise funds and be part of this incredible community.”
Swim Across America grants have had incredible success, particularly at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, one of the SAA-Nassau/Suffolk beneficiaries. The community is a grant funder of MSK’s landmark clinical trial that achieved a 100% success rate treating advanced rectal cancer patients with dostarlimab; as well as a funder of the most recent Phase II clinical trial at MSK just published in The New England Journal of Medicine that showed an 80% success rate in treating patients with several types of MMRd cancers who were treated with immunotherapy and did not require surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy after six months of treatment with immunotherapy alone. SAA awarded the grants for the early-stage research and continues to award grants for the ongoing clinical trial.
Seeing the impact SAA has on cancer research is what drives Kelly to continue to support the mission.
“Swim Across America makes a real impact by funding innovative cancer research and clinical trials that give patients hope and save lives,” said Kelly.
“It’s important to me and my family because it turns grief into action and brings people together to fight for a future without cancer.”
If you are moved to support Kelly and Huntington Y Bluefish, click here.
When 13-year-old leukemia survivor Jane Hatch dives into one of this summer’s Swim Across America – Long Island Soundpool 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, raisingmillions for cancer research and patient care.
Jane Hatch, a young leukemia survivor, will swim at a SAA-Long Island Sound pool swim this year.
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.
Almost a year-and-a-half after sadly losing Gina Mannix Wente to breast cancer, who was just 32-years-old and a beloved wife, mother, daughter and sister, more than 50 of her relatives and friends are suiting up again to make a big splash with “Team Gina” at the 33rd annual Swim Across America – Long Island Sound open water swim on Saturday, July 26, held on the shores of Long Island Sound in Larchmont, New York.
Gina Mannix Wente
The team has hit the ground running and is already one of the top fundraising teams, raising $33,255 to date for the July charity swim. For Team Gina, diving back into the water isn’t just a tribute – it’s a way to keep Gina’s competitive spirit and generosity alive – all while fueling cancer research that could help others battle this terrible disease.
Gina grew up swimming at the Larchmont Shore Club, captained undefeated squads at Ursuline and the College of the Holy Cross, and later coached for the New York Athletic Club. She balanced that passion with a finance career that took her to GE Capital and Ferrara Candy. In 2021 she married Dave Wente. Their daughter, McKenzie, arrived in 2022, and their son, David Charles, was delivered early at just 29 weeks on February 1, 2024, weeks after Gina’s sudden cancer diagnosis. Gina sadly passed away on February 26, 2024, just 3-1/2 weeks after welcoming her son.
Gina and her daughter, McKenzie
“Last summer’s swim, was as you can imagine, raw and emotional for all of us after losing Gina so suddenly,” noted Gina’s mother, Mary Mannix. “However, being all together at the swim and doing something that Gina loved was also very healing. We are coming back this year stronger and more energized than ever before. Every dollar we raise honors her love of the sport of swimming and helps fund the breakthroughs that can possibly help save other lives.”
“Cancer knows no boundaries,” noted Jean Fufidio, event director for SAA-Long Island Sound. “It impacts adults, young adults and children. Diagnoses of young adults globally have risen by 79%. But here’s how Swim Across America Long Island Sound is making a positive impact. A recent Time Magazine story, ‘The Race to Explain Why More Young Adults are Getting Cancer’ mentioned the ground-breaking, rectal clinical trials done by one of our very own fellow doctors, with a 100% response rate. A subsequent trial that was expanded to other gastrointestinal MMRd type cancers and published in The New England Journal of Medicinein April showed an astounding 80% success rate with immunotherapy alone – no surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. That is making an impact.”
Members of Team Gina swam at the 2024 SAA-Long Island Sound open water swim
Proceeds from SAA-Long Island Sound benefit Swim Across America’s local beneficiaries: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, Cancer Support Team and Weill Cornell Medicine. Registration, volunteer sign-ups and donations are open at swimacrossamerica.org/longislandsound.
Now in its 33rd year, SAA-Long Island Sound open water and pool swims have contributed nearly $30 million towards cancer research, resulting in FDA approved immunotherapy treatments of Keytruda, Opdivo and Yervoy. What’s more is the money raised locally stays local, providing cancer care and research grants to The Cancer Support Team, a Westchester-based home care program offering free services to patients and their families; to New York Presbyterian Children’s Hospital Pediatric Oncology Lab; to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Research Laboratories of Dr. Diaz and Dr. Kung Kids Department of Pediatrics;and to Weill Cornell Medicine Research Laboratory of Dr. Wolchok and Dr. Merghoub.
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.
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.
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