Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Rhode Island community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiary, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island at swimacrossamerica.org/rhodeisland.
Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Seattle community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiary, Fred Hutch Cancer Center at swimacrossamerica.org/seattle.
Samantha Johanna (Sammie Jo) Porter Swim Across America – Atlanta Age: 24 Years supporting Swim Across America: 14
Samantha Johanna (Sammie Jo), now 24, was only 11 years old when she woke up with a swollen eye. At that age, it seemed typical to assume she had something stuck in her eye causing the inflammation and that it would be a relatively easy solution to solve.
However, after multiple doctor visits, a CT scan showed a pea-size hole in her left orbit and a diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). LCH is a rare cancer condition where immune cells build up and form tumors or damage tissue, bone, and organs.
Sammie Jo, age 11, before her cancer diagnosis.
Sammie Jo didn’t let this devastating diagnosis stop her. An avid swimmer and child athlete, she was successfully treated and kept swimming throughout her medical issues.
In 2011, after emerging successfully from her treatment, she joined the cancer fundraising efforts with Swim Across America. This year, Sammie Jo is once again participating – this time in Atlanta. Though she has participated in several different swims, the Atlanta swim holds a special place in her heart.
“Swim Across America – Atlanta benefits the Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where I work as a neonatal ICU nurse,” said Sammie Jo.
Sammie Jo swims at a Swim Across America event.
When asked what carried her through her difficult – and sometimes traumatic – treatments, Sammie Jo’s bright personality shines through.
“Through thick and thin, you just have to keep your head up,” noted Sammie Jo. “When I got my original diagnosis as a child, it was almost like a ray of sunshine in the dark tunnel because the doctors finally figured out what was wrong with me. But at the same time, I had to have major head surgery and that was scary.”
Sammie Jo had a layer of her skull shaved, which was then used to repair the hole in her orbit. She ended up with an incision from ear to ear. She and her family lived in Texas at the time and her first Swim Across America event after her recovery was the Swim Across America – Dallas event.
“I got involved in Swim Across America a year after I fought bone cancer,” said Sammie Jo. “I grew up swimming competitively, so when I heard that this open water swim was taking place in Dallas, I thought it was the perfect fit. While in college at Mizzou, I also participated in the Swim Across America – St. Louis event. I didn’t realize then that this organization, shortly after, would become my family and I wouldn’t change that for the world. I’m now so honored to be helping run the Junior Advisory Board for the Atlanta swim and on the Swim Across America Associate National Board!”
Sammie Jo with SAA-Dallas co-event directors, Michael Smit and Olympian Ryan Berube.
In high school, Sammie Jo swam for Lakeside Aquatic Club and was the 2015-2016 Scholastic All-American. At the University of Missouri, she was on the swim team where she was a stand-out ranked swimmer in the 100 and 200 free and won multiple event titles, and received an All-American honorable mention as a sophomore as part of the Missouri 400 relay team at the NCAA Championships.
The University of Missouri team at SAA-St. Louis.
Sammie Jo graduated in December of 2021 from the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing and happily accepted her dream job as a neonatal ICU nurse at Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the SAA-Atlanta’s local beneficiary.
Upon arriving in Atlanta, Sammie Jo knew she wanted to continue swimming and volunteering with Swim Across America, so joining the Atlanta swim was natural.
“I was a recent college graduate working my first job and had a lot of energy and passion for helping raise awareness and funds to fight cancer,” noted Sammie Jo. “I wanted to try to use my experience with swimming – and with cancer – to motivate other young swimmers to get involved.”
Sammie Jo dove right in and signed up to help spearhead the SAA-Atlanta Junior Advisory Board, where close to 20 middle and high school teens from throughout the Atlanta area work on specific fundraising programs for the swim, as well as swimming themselves. Sammie Jo also joined Swim Across America’s National Associate Board as a junior member.
Throughout the years, Sammie Jo has raised more than $20,000 for crucial cancer research with Swim Across America. She has participated as a swimmer and volunteer at Swim Across America events in Dallas, Charlotte, Seattle, St. Louis, and Atlanta.
If you are moved to support Sammie Jo, 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.
Mel Smith Swim Across America – Seattle Age: 80 Years supporting Swim Across America: 15
This year, Swim Across America – Seattle is celebrating 15 years of impact. In that time, the charity swim has raised over $4.5 million for its beneficiary, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, and has made a remarkable impact on its community.
Mel at SAA-Seattle.
One swimmer, 80-year-old Mel Smith, has been there from the beginning, and is proud to have participated in the swim every year.
“While I’ve been involved with Swim Across America – Seattle for 15 years, this is actually my 14th year swimming for the cause, as COVID sidelined the actual open water event a few years ago,” noted Mel.
Mel swims with the team “Y-Naught” and over the years, he has raised nearly $36,000 to support SAA-Seattle. Mel and his teammates typically swim the 2-mile course at the open water event.
Team Y-Naught at SAA-Seattle.
Mel grew up in Michigan and swam with his Cooley High School swim team, then swam competitively all four years at Albion College, holding the record in the 500 and 200 freestyle.
1960 Cooley High School Swim Team, Detroit MI
After college, he moved to Illinois and was the swim coach at two different high schools before moving to Olympia, Washington, in 2005, where he became the Olympia High School swim coach. Mel also coached at the Briggs YMCA and just retired from that position on August 25, 2023. He coached swimming for a total of 43 years! In addition, Mel has been a member of the Masters swim program at his local Y.
“I swim with team Y-Naught, made up of swimmers from my Masters swim program at our local Biggs YMCA. This year, I am swimming a half-mile in honor of survivors Laura Beth Whyte, Michael Smith and Carolyn Prouty, and in memory of Karen Russell.”
Mel and his team have become a staple at the SAA-Seattle event and the local committee look forward to seeing them every year.
“Mel exemplifies the dedication and passion so many of our swimmers have for making waves to fight cancer,” noted David Day, SAA-Seattle co-event director.
“To have Mel with us for all 15 years we’ve been swimming in Seattle is really amazing! He has been an important part of Swim Across America and we love having him back year-after-year.”
Mel and his family at an SAA-Seattle event
This year, Mel will be swimming his distance in the local pool but will be on-site cheering on his team and the hundreds of participants that come out each year.
If you are moved to support Mel Smith, 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-St. Louis community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiary, Siteman Cancer Center at swimacrossamerica.org/stlouis.
Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Richmond community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiary, VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center at swimacrossamerica.org/richmond.
Kate Murphy Swim Across America – Baltimore Age: 72
Kate Murphy witnessed firsthand how important funding is to the cancer field. In fact, she credits having her husband Arnold Simon for an additional six years to his enrollment in a clinical trial at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins.
“Arnold was diagnosed in 2016 with Stage 4 metastasized pancreatic cancer,” said Kate.
“After he was successfully treated, we wanted to give back to the community and jumped at the chance to volunteer for the Swim Across America – Baltimore open water swim.”
The Swim Across America – Baltimore charity swim supports clinical trials and cancer research at Johns Hopkins.
Arnold Simon speaking at the 2019 SAA-Baltimore event.
“Arnold was so very grateful for everything the doctors and staff at Hopkins had done for him,” said Kate. “After months of chemotherapy, and then major surgery in December of 2017, my husband’s tumor was so small it looked like a small dot or even scar tissue. He was MOST impressed with the results from Dr. Dung Le’s chemotherapy trial.”
Their enthusiasm over Arnold’s results is what prompted him and Kate to get involved with Swim Across America – Baltimore. Unfortunately, their plans of attending the event were thwarted by mother nature.
“We signed up in 2018, but Hurricane Florence took that one away. Our first time volunteering at an SAA event was in 2019. We helped set things up and Arnold was a featured speaker addressing the audience that day about his experience with cancer and the research at Hopkins. Then 2020’s event was virtual, but we were back in 2021 and I returned in 2022.”
Kate Murphy at the 2019 SAA-Baltimore event.
Kate (far left) volunteering at the 2022 SAA-Baltimore event.
It was 2018 when Arnold was doing well, and Kate turned her attention to her own health. She made doctor’s appointments she had put off and found out she had early-stage breast cancer. Kate was treated at Johns Hopkins with surgery and radiation and, thankfully, is in remission.
Kate attended the 2022 SAA-Baltimore event in September, shortly after Arnold’s passing. Though she was grieving, it was important to her to give thanks to and show her appreciation for those who cared for Arnold through his treatments.
“Sadly, Arnold passed away in July of 2022. It was tragic for our family and all who knew him, and so very sad for me; but because he was able to be treated in Dr. Le’s clinical trial at Johns Hopkins, he survived Stage 4 metastasized pancreatic cancer, not just six weeks or six months, but almost six years!” said Kate.
“I volunteered once again at last year’s Swim Across America event just two months after Arnold passed. It was important for me to honor Arnold’s ‘helping others’ legacy and continue to let everyone know how very grateful I am to all who swim and volunteer and donate money to support cancer research at Johns Hopkins. I got an incredible six years with Arnold because of them.”
Kate says she will continue to support Swim Across America – Baltimore in any way she can – as long as it doesn’t include swimming!
“I can’t swim (literally, I can’t swim!), but I can donate, and I can volunteer. And I will be there cheering on the swimmers and fundraisers as long as I can!”
If you are moved to support Kate Murphy, 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.
Payton De La Cruz Swim Across America – Rhode Island 2 years supporting Swim Across America Age: 27
As a PhD student in cancer biology at Brown University, Providence resident Payton De La Cruz knows first-hand how important philanthropy is to cancer research.
When the opportunity arose to support the national nonprofit that funds her work at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island’s Program in Women’s Oncology, she jumped — or dove — at the chance to “make waves” in the fight against cancer.
“I’ve swum recreationally my entire life, so I was excited to learn that Swim Across America funds the Woman and Infants Hospital labs I work in under Doctors Kate Grive and Nicole James,” said Payton. “SAA’s mission aligns with my values, and its support of our translational research in early-stage breast and gynecologic cancer has been vital.”
Payton sits on SAA-Rhode Island’s event planning committee. Earlier this year, she attended the SAA national leadership summit and subsequently joined the associate board, which supports the nonprofit’s mission by fostering student and community engagement through initiatives such as the new College Ambassador Program.
At this year’s Rhode Island Swim, Payton will volunteer on the beach before and after she dives in to swim a mile with the One Fin Tunas team captained by Dr. David Edmonson.
“Swim Across America’s annual grant literally supports everything I do, not just supplies and equipment,” noted Payton.
“Those funds enabled me to join the lab in 2021 as a full-time graduate student starting a new project on triple-negative breast cancer and immunotherapy. I’m grateful for this experience and proud to be part of the next generation of cancer researchers supported by Swim Across America.”
Payton earned a bachelor’s degree in molecular and cellular biology at University of Arizona and a master’s degree in environmental health at Boston University. Besides her academic studies and cancer research work, she is an avid rower and coordinates science outreach programs for students in under-represented communities.
If you are moved to support Payton De La Cruz, 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.
Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Boston community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiaries, MassGeneral Cancer Center and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at swimacrossamerica.org/boston.
Swim Across America 