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.
Media coverage celebrating Swim Across America – San Francisco participant and marathon swimmer, Maya Merhige. Learn about Maya and her record-breaking marathon swims at swimacrossamerica.org/maya. For media inquiries, email Jeni Howard.
SwimSwam: “17-Year-Old Open Water Swimmer Maya Merhige Conquers New Zealand’s Cook Strait”
Swimming World: “Maya Merhige, 17, Adds Crossing of New Zealand’s Cook Strait”
World Open Water Swimming Association: “17-Year-Old Marathon Swimmer Maya Merhige Conquers New Zealand’s Cook Strait, Continuing Her Mission to Make Waves to Fight Cancer”
The Sports Column: “Making Waves to Fight Cancer, 17-Year-Old Maya Merhige Conquers New Zealand’s Cook Strait”
KPIX-TV (CBS, 5): “Berkeley high school student completes daunting open water swim in New Zealand”
SAAswim.com: “17-Year-Old Marathon Swimmer Maya Merhige Conquers New Zealand’s Cook Strait, Continuing Her Mission to Make Waves to Fight Cancer”
English Channel Swim and Triple Crown – July 2024
NBC News Now: Teen swims English Channel to help fight cancer
People Magazine: “16-Year-Old Successfully Swims the English Channel — Up Next? Her Senior Year of High School”
New York Times: At 17, She’s Already Conquered Some of the World’s Big Swims
The Sports Column: “16-Year-Old Maya Merhige Swims English Channel, Raises +$100,000 to Fight Cancer”
SwimSwam: “16-YEAR-OLD MAYA MERHIGE SUCCESSFULLY SWIMS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL”
Berkeleyside (updated): “Berkeley teen braves sharks and hyperthermia in world record swims. What keeps her going?”
Yahoo! Sport: “16-Year-Old Successfully Swims the English Channel — Up Next? Her Senior Year of High School”
Swimming World: “Maya Merhige Swims English Channel at Age 16 to Complete Open Water Triple Crown”
Outdoor Swimmer: “16-year-old Maya Merhige to swim English Channel”
SwimSwam: “16-Year-Old Marathon Swimmer Maya Merhige to Tackle English Channel”
The Sports Column: “Maya Merhige: ‘I Swim for Each and Every Person Who Has Ever Been Touched by Cancer’”
Berkeley, California, Resident Is Now One of the Youngest in History to Complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming and Makes Waves to Fund Cancer Research through Swim Across America
Maya Merhige has done it again! The 16-year-old marathon swimmer has just successfully conquered the English Channel (20.5 miles or 33 km), making her one of the youngest swimmers in history to achieve the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming, which includes the English Channel, Catalina Channel and Manhattan 20 Bridges swims. Maya swam the English Channel in just 11 hours and 39 minutes on July 13, 2024. She undertook the iconic English Channel swim and her other marathon swims to make waves to fight cancer and raise funds for the nonprofit Swim Across America, which funds innovative cancer treatments and clinical trials.
Maya Merhige, a 16-year-old marathon swimmer from San Francisco, successfully completed the English Channel swim earning her the prestigious Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming.
Maya earned her stripes toward the Triple Crown and broke swimming records in the past by completing the Catalina Channel and Manhattan 20 Bridges swims. In September 2021, at 14 years old, Maya broke the record as the youngest woman in history to successfully swim the 20-mile Catalina Channel, finishing in 10 hours and 48 minutes. In 2023, at 15 years old, Maya was one of the youngest swimmers to successfully complete the 28.5-mile 20 Bridges swim around Manhattan Island, which took her 8 hours and 43 minutes.
“We are beyond proud of Maya and her determination and grit to swim these swims,” said Maya’s mom Liz Tung. “We never imagined Maya, who was just nine years old when she swam her first Swim Across America – San Francisco open water swim, would find such a passion for open water swimming and take her swimming so far. Earning the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming at just 16 years old is just incredible! We are thrilled for her!”
Maya also holds the world record as the youngest woman to swim the 21-mile length, 12-mile width, and 10.8-mile Vikingsholm courses of Lake Tahoe, earning her the Tahoe Triple Crown. She also became the youngest swimmer in the world to successfully swim the grueling 26-mile Kaiwi Molokai Channel, between the Hawaiian Islands of Molokai and Oahu, which she completed in 27 hrs and 33 mins. She also holds a record for the longest duration and joined the ranks of the “24-Hour Club” with the 108th longest non-stop open water swim in history.
Maya Merhige after completing the Catalina Channel swim in September 2021.
“I’m so grateful and excited to have successfully swum the English Channel and completed the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming,” said Maya. “Swimming the English Channel this year was a big goal of mine for many reasons. This year marks my ninth year participating with Swim Across America. With the generous support of family, friends and others, I have been able to raise an incredible $100,000 to fight cancer, which has gone directly to the Swim Across America San Francisco beneficiary UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals. This past year, I’ve also endured some health battles of my own, and my personal experience has made me even more inspired and passionate about supporting cancer research and treatments at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals. I’m also going to be a senior in high school this fall and next year will look very different for me as I will leave home to start college. So this was the year to swim the English Channel!”
Maya before her record-breaking and grueling 26-mile Kaiwi Molokai Channel swim in January 2023.
Maya’s own medical challenges began in March 2023, when after suffering a ski crash, a benign tumor on her pancreas was discovered. Suffering from chronic pain, surgeries and hospitalizations since, she has a newfound empathy for pediatric cancer patients who endure endless procedures and appointments. Despite these challenges, Maya remains undeterred.
“Due to the pain I was experiencing earlier this year, I didn’t get to train as much as I would have liked leading up to the English Channel swim,” noted Maya. “These past six weeks, after being in the hospital for 10 nights in May, I really had to kick my training into gear. There were points while I was swimming the Channel where I wanted to give up. I swam through schools of jellyfish and had a lot of stomach pain, but I kept thinking that this doesn’t compare to what kids with cancer face. That helped me find the strength to keep going.”
Continues Maya, “The English Channel was cold and the current was really strong. Whenever I stopped swimming to feed, I could feel myself getting pulled backwards. I knew I had to keep swimming hard, no matter how exhausted I was, in order to get past the tidal current and land on the French shore at Cap Gris Nez. But I made it!” After reaching shore and climbing the rocks to dry land, Maya had one of her favorite meals – Chow Mein – waiting for her back on the boat.
“I’m extremely grateful for my family and friends who have supported me in this endeavor. My dad Chris Merhige and friend Kelly Gentry, who is also an accomplished English Channel swimmer, were on the boat (the Sea Leopard) as my crew during the swim, along with the boat captain Stuart Gleeson, co-pilot Sean Marsh, and observer Jon Miell. My mom Liz Tung, sister Lucy, and extended family were back in England cheering me on. A big thank you to all of my friends and supporters who followed my journey and sent words of encouragement that were relayed to me while swimming. I’m exhausted, but very, very happy!”
Maya’s swimming journey began at just nine years old with the Swim Across America – San Francisco open water swim when she joined Team Susan Survives!, for her dear family friend and three-time cancer survivor Susan Helmrich. The San Francisco swim raises funds for pediatric cancer research, supporting the work of Dr. Julie Saba and Dr. Robert Goldsby at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, which has been a leader in pediatric cancer research and treatment for decades, significantly increasing cure rates and improving the future for thousands of patients worldwide. UCSF’s advances in treating leukemia and other cancers have contributed to the overall five-year survival rate for childhood cancer rising to nearly 85% today, up from 10% in the 1970s. Despite this progress, childhood cancer is still a challenge and can have lasting effects on patients and their families. UCSF continues to study these long-term consequences.
Maya Merhige and SAA-San Francisco co-event director, Jackie NeJaime at the 2023 community swim.
The partnership between Swim Across America and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital is essential for advancing cancer research and care.
Maya is also serving her second year as president of the Swim Across America – San Francisco Junior Advisory Board and her goal has been to raise $35,000 this year with the English Channel swim and the San Francisco swim, which will bring the total she has been able to raise to more than $125,000 for Swim Across America to support cancer research for UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals.
“I’d especially like to thank Dr. Julie Saba, director of the Swim Across America Research Lab at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, for her continued support throughout my own health challenges. For that, I am forever grateful and inspired to raise even more for Swim Across America and UCSF through my swimming,” noted Maya.
Maya also plans to participate in the Swim Across America – San Francisco open water swim on October 5, 2024, swimming with her team Chasing Channels, made up of other Swim Across America – San Francisco Junior Advisory Board members and Bay Area youth. One tradition Maya has is to write the names of friends and family members battling cancer on her swim cap. “I am honored to carry the names of friends and family members affected by cancer on my cap,” she added. “I’m going to keep swimming to raise awareness and funds for fighting cancer until we have a cure.”
To learn more about Maya swimming the English Channel and to make a donation to Swim Across America, visit swimacrossamerica.org/maya.
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. Funds raised by Swim Across America and its grants have helped support the research and clinical trials for FDA approved immunotherapy medicines, including Keytruda, Opdivo, Yervoy and Tecentriq. Swim Across America is also a grant funder of the successful clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering that was published inThe 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. Swim Across America grants support 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 in 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 Kate Douglass, Michael Phelps, Craig Beardsley, Elizabeth Beisel, Missy Franklin, Ryan Held, Gretchen Walsh, Donna de Varona, Rowdy Gaines, Janel Jorgensen McArdle, Bobby Hackett, Ryan Lochte, Glenn Mills, Cristina Teuscher and many more.
Swim Across America, Inc. (SAA) raises money and awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment through swimming-related events. With the help of volunteers, and Olympians, Swim Across America is an innovator and leader in giving hope to those fighting cancer. To learn more visit swimacrossamerica.org, Facebook @SwimAcrossAmerica, and Instagram and Twitter @SAASwim.
Julia Brookshire’s journey with Swim Across America is full of signs and signals. The events leading up to her newest adventure are like an invisible string that ties her to the Swim Across America mission. It’s an adventure that prompted a career change and a cross-continental swim.
“I first found out about Swim Across America because I saw a backpack with the logo laying on the pool deck. I had just finished a swim, saw the logo, and Googled ‘Swim Across America’ when I got home,” said Julia.
When she realized Swim Across America combined swimming and fighting cancer, she was immediately drawn in. Julia’s father passed away in 2005 from glioblastoma and Julia’s neighbor had recently been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). She knew she had to be involved, so she gathered up her neighborhood friends and formed a team for the 2019 Swim Across America – Charlotte community swim in her neighbor’s honor.
Fast forward to 2021 and Julia wanted to swim again. This time, she chose the Swim Across America – Tampa event because she had friends in Florida who would come with her to the event.
Julia Brookshire, center, with teammates at the 2019 Swim Across America – Charlotte open water swim.
“Before the start of the swim, I met Vicki Bunke, whose daughter Grace lost her battle to osteosarcoma. Vicki swam in 14 Swim Across America events to honor Grace. As a mother, I immediately felt a connection,” said Julia.
Julia Brookshire and Rob Butcher, Swim Across Ameria CEO, at the 2021 SAA-Tampa community swim.
When Julia finished the course at SAA-Tampa, she met Rob Butcher, Swim Across America chief executive officer. They shared a quick exchange and realized they both lived in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was a sign.
“When we got back to Charlotte, Rob reached out to me, and we met for breakfast. He asked me, ‘What do you do and what are you passionate about?’” said Julia.
Julia said, “I’m a pharmaceutical sales rep and my passion is water safety.” At the time, Julia was working as a pharmaceutical sales rep in the rare-disease space and certifying lifeguards for Mecklenburg County Aquatics. Julia holds several water safety certifications, including training as a Big Wave Risk Assessment Groups water rescue technician, and as a surf responder for the ocean course. After her discussion with Rob Butcher, Julia knew this was the start of something special.
FAMILIAR FACES IN ALL PLACES
Julia had been swimming since she was two years old. She was taught to swim “the old school way” as she puts it. She swam competitively through high school and continued swimming, though in a less competitive way, in college and still swims to this day.
“My mother was terrified of the water. She vowed to make sure her kids knew how to swim and how to be safe around water. So at two years old, she put my brothers and me into the pool and sort of forced us to learn to swim!” said Julia.
Julia’s involvement with Swim Across America quickly grew and her passion for water safety led her to higher-level volunteer positions with Swim Across America. Some of her roles included supervising some of the community events as a national safety liaison. At her first event where she worked with the safety team, she saw a familiar face.
“I looked over and there was Vicki Bunke! First in Tampa and now at Swim Across America – Charleston-Kiawah. Another sign.”
Julia continued volunteering as a national safety liaison for the next two years.
SWIMMING WITH MY THOUGHTS
It wasn’t until February 2023 when Julia’s connection with Swim Across America became even more important. Julia was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) and began a year-long treatment program that included a combination of chemotherapy antineoplastic agent infusions and oral immunotherapy.
“I didn’t tell people that I had cancer. I didn’t want my sons to be constantly reminded I wasn’t well. I wanted to focus on my remission, not my CLL diagnosis. And I didn’t want people to treat me differently,” shared Julia.
Throughout her treatments, Julia swam daily at her local YMCA. Swimming was a form of therapy and helped her maintain a positive outlook. It was so important to her that she scheduled her treatments in the late mornings so she could swim every day at the YMCA at 6 a.m.
“Swimming was where I could be with my thoughts. I could pray, I could meditate, I didn’t have to think about cancer. It kept me centered and grounded. In fact, I had just gotten out of the pool when I got the ‘you have cancer’ call from my doctor. If I had been anywhere else, I would not have been able to handle that call,” said Julia.
Another sign.
Julia Brookshire excitedly rang “the bell” at Levine Cancer Center in March 2024.
Swimming also kept her focused on remission. Thankfully, Julia was given the news that she was in “deep remission” in February 2024. She anxiously went for her last routine scan and visit with Dr. Ryan Jacobs at Levine Cancer Center.
“On March 7, I rang that bell signifying completion of my treatment and I couldn’t have been happier,” said Julia.
“Then I kept thinking, ‘OK, what’s next, what do I do now?’”
What came next was something bigger than Julia had imagined and surprised those closest to her. Before she could tell people about her next adventure, she needed to tell them she was in remission – from a cancer they didn’t know she had.
MAKING WAVES WITH A CROSS-CONTINENTAL SWIM
Julia’s big plan was realized when Swim Across America announced a new partnership with SwimTrek, the world’s leading provider of open water swimming trips. It was a sign.
“I started by telling people that I was doing something crazy, swimming from one continent to another, and I was raising money for Swim Across America. When they asked why, I told them it was to celebrate my remission of CLL,” said Julia.
“The amount of love, kindness, and support I received was unbelievable. Well, not completely unbelievable, because I know I have an incredible support system. But it was overwhelming and I’m so grateful.”
So what IS next? In February 2024, Julia signed up as a Swim Across America SAA My Way virtual participant. This allows her to design and complete her own challenge and raise funds for Swim Across America.
In July 2024, she made an even bigger move and left her career in pharmaceutical sales to officially join Swim Across America as a full-time national safety director!
Now onto Julia’s next adventure and My Way fundraiser: Thanks to the partnership between Swim Across America and SwimTrek, Julia was awarded an entry into the Hellespont and Dardanelles Swim, known as the world’s oldest swim. In August 2024, Julia will travel to Turkey and swim the Hellespont and Dardanelles swim on August 30.
The course is a cross-continental swim from Europe to Asia in Turkey and is through one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. The shipping lane is closed during the race, so swimmers must adhere to a strict course time. The course is 4.5 kilometers and must be completed in 90 minutes.
“It’s intimidating and I’m training for it! I am a good swimmer and am building up my stamina. I am thankful that I’m feeling healthy and strong,” shared Julia.
“I think back to that backpack on the pool deck and look to where it’s led me. I am working with an organization that is making an incredible impact in communities across the country. I swam my way through cancer treatment. And now I get to swim one of the oldest swimming courses in the world and raise money for cancer research while I do it. There were signs all over the place.”
Julia will have some company and moral support in the water as she makes her cross-continental trek. Julia will be joined by Janel Jorgensen McArdle, a former Olympic swimmer and Swim Across America chief operating officer.
“Julia and I have been close friends for a while and I’m so happy she has been given this opportunity to celebrate her year-long journey,” Janel shared. “This is so special and I’m happy to swim alongside her. Now I need to start training!” Janel joked.
Julia hopes to make waves to fight cancer by raising $60,000 for Swim Across America – and is so close to meeting her goal! If you are moved to support her swim, visit swimacrossamerica.org/jb.
Find media highlights from Julia’s adventure here.
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.
Ellie Wehrmann was just a junior at Incarnate Word Academy high school when she first participated in the Swim Across America – St. Louis open water swim. In 2018, Ellie swam to support her best friend, Emily Schroeder, who had just lost her mom, Beth, to colon cancer. After that first swim, Swim Across America’s mission held a place in her heart.
Unfortunately, the cause took a more personal meaning for Ellie when she lost her own mom to cancer in November of 2022.
“My whole world got flipped upside down on November 20th, 2022 when my mom, Dana Wehrmann, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Three days later, on November 23rd she lost her battle,” shared Ellie.
Ellie’s mom’s diagnosis and sudden passing was understandably a shock to her family and through her grief, Ellie was able to find strength in giving hope to others who are fighting the same battle.
“As a kid, I kind of always thought that my parents were invincible. Yes, I saw cancer around me but I always thought ‘that could never happen to me’ or ‘not my parents,’” said Ellie.
Ellie, her mom, Dana, and her brother, Max, at the 2021 Swim Across America – St. Louis community swim.
“Cancer has deeply impacted my life, reshaping my perspective and priorities. Losing my mom to leukemia was a profound loss that left an everlasting mark on my family. Witnessing her strength and resilience throughout her battle inspired me and my brother, Max, to take action against this awful disease. We want to honor her memory and the memories of others we’ve lost by actively contributing to the fight against cancer.”
Throughout the years, Ellie and Max’s team, Waves for Wehrmann, have raised more than $38,000. Proceeds from the Swim Across America – St. Louis community swim benefit cancer research at Siteman Cancer Center. Seeing the impact Swim Across America grants have on cancer research is what drives them to continue supporting the event.
Ellie with her dad at the 2023 SAA-St. Louis event.
“Raising money through Swim Across America is not just about swimming or volunteering; it’s about making a tangible difference in the lives of those affected by cancer. Every dollar raised brings us closer to better treatments, improved outcomes, and ultimately, a world without cancer,” shared Ellie.
“Swim Across America’s impact is undeniable, as it funds critical cancer research and support programs that directly benefit patients and families affected by cancer.”
Through Ellie’s grief and newfound perspectives, she remains dedicated to Swim Across America and bringing hope to families battling cancer.
“It’s about turning grief into action, channeling my pain into purpose, and striving to create a future where families no longer have to endure the pain of losing a loved one to this relentless disease.”
“For my family, Swim Across America is important because it represents hope, community, and the collective determination to fight against cancer, honoring the memory of loved ones lost and supporting those still battling this disease. Swim Across America is particularly important to my family because it has provided us a way to honor my mom, who was the assistant swim coach at CBC High School and Incarnate Word Academy, and an avid supporter of Swim Across America.”
To support Ellie and Waves for Wehrmann, click here.
Ellie and her brother, Max Wehrmann, at the 2023 SAA-St. Louis event.
Ellie’s mom encouraged her to involve her University of Kansas swim team in the Swim Across America – St. Louis event.
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.
On Saturday, May 4, hundreds of swimmers, volunteers, and supporters will “Make Waves to Fight Cancer” at the 13th annual Swim Across America – Tampa Bay open water swim at North Shore Park, St. Petersburg, Florida Proceeds from the event benefit cancer research at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Established in 2021, Swim Across America – Tampa Bay has raised over $2 million for cancer research and clinical trials.
Every participant has a special reason for attending the charity swim; whether it’s to honor a cancer survivor, swim in memory of a loved one, or experience the hope each community swim brings.
For the second year in a row 16-year-old Kellen Murdock will swim one mile with his team Berkeley Aquatics. Kellen shared his personal connection to Swim Across America’s mission.
“I participated in Swim Across America – Tampa Bay last year in honor of my Dad. In 2019, he was diagnosed with stage 4 sinus cancer. The possibility of losing him was devastating,” shared Kellen.
“I’m grateful that my dad has been in remission since completing treatment in June 2019. This was only possible thanks to the dedication of his team of oncologists.”
Kellen Murdock and his father embrace at the 2023 SAA-Tampa Bay event
Kellen took his dedication even further by joining the Swim Across America – Tampa Bay Junior Advisory Board this year. The group of high school students serve as ambassadors for Swim Across America in their community and pledge to raise awareness and funds in support of the cause.
“Swim Across America is important to my family because of my dad’s experiences with cancer. We don’t want anyone to go through the same experiences we did with cancer and Swim Across America helps with that,” said Kellen.
Haley Campbell and Dr. Heather Pryor joined Swim Across America – Tampa Bay with a unique team name – Team Hakuna Ma-Tatas. The lighthearted name is a nod to Heather’s recent battle with breast cancer.
The duo joined Swim Across America as a way to get back in the water, stay active, and give back to the community.
“We both have competed in some form, whether it be competitive swimming or triathlons, and we both wanted to get back in the water. For Heather, it was more than swimming. She had just finished heavy treatments for breast cancer and wanted to find a way to get active again,” said team captain, Haley.
“It seemed like a no-brainer. We both had a deep connection to cancer, so we could support cancer research, while doing something we love.”
Heather Pryor and Haley Campbell, Team Hakuna Ma-Tatas
Haley also shared that when she was five years old, her father was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia.
“At the time he was given three to five years to live. He looked the doctors dead in the eyes and said, ‘No, I WILL watch my kids graduate from high school,’” said Haley.
“Not only did he get to see us graduate high school, he saw my brother graduate from college. He passed away 16 years after he was diagnosed. I have no doubt that modern advances in cancer research – and his incredibly positive attitude – are the reasons that I was able to not only grow up with my daddy, but I was also able to make memories that I never would have been able to make.”
Like many Swim Across America participants, Heather loved that she could combine celebrating her recovery with giving hope to others fighting the same battle.
“Through Swim Across America, I not only help myself recover from breast cancer treatments, but I can also help fund research to help others overcome cancer, too.
Heather has been a family physician for 25 years and has discovered cancer in many of her patients throughout her career.
“I am swimming in honor of all the people who are currently fighting cancer and in memory of those who lost the battle. I am hopeful that my efforts help find a cure for cancer, so others will not have to endure what I and so many others have faced.”
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.
Swim Across America 