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.
Choi’s next generation CAR-T therapy, funded in part by SAA-Boston and SAA-Nantucket, has shown “dramatic and rapid” regression of glioblastoma
With early funding from Swim Across America – Boston and Swim Across America – Nantucket, Dr. Bryan Choi’s research on tandem CAR T-cell therapy for ependymoma was approved for a Phase I trial. The first human patient was infused at the end of April 2023. The results of the first human trials, as described in 2024 by the New England Journal of Medicine, showed “dramatic and rapid” regression of glioblastoma.
In an exclusive briefing to Swim Across America participants, Dr. Bryan Choi, a neurosurgeon and neuro-oncologist at Massachusetts General Cancer Center, delivered an update on his research path.
From left, brain tumors, marked by red and green arrows, disappear a day after CAR-T immunotherapy treatment. From CNN.
The Swim Across America lab visit included not only highlights from on the ongoing Phase I trial, but also a few first-hand stories about the life-changing impacts of the new CAR-T cell therapy for one of the patients, who has chosen to share his story publicly.
Tom Fraser (Patient #2) has shared his story publicly with news outlets that include CNN and New York Magazine.
Tom Fraser, 72, (center, in the blue shirt) was treated with a single infusion of CAR-T cells. Two days later, an MRI showed a decrease in the tumor’s size by 18.5 percent. By day 69, the tumor had decreased by 60.7 percent, and the response was sustained for over 6 months. From The Harvard Gazette.
CAR T-cell therapy, a type of gene therapy that engineers a patient’s own T-cells (a type of white blood cells) to identify and attack cancer cells by way of their antigen markers, has shown promise in the treatment of blood cancers. The research team created dual antigen-targeting tandem CAR T (TanCART) cells to target heterogeneous solid tumors. Dr. Choi’s research shows that this type of therapy can also be manipulated to treat solid tumors like ependymoma.
At the suggestion of Dr. Howard Weinstein, Unit Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Mass General for Children and long-time Swim Across America partner, Dr. Choi applied for a Swim Across America research grant through the internal competitive bid program at Mass General for Children.
Dr. Choi recruiting the next generation of researchers, like SAA – Nantucket supporter, Braden Hussey.
Without the Swim Across America grant, Dr. Choi said, his research likely would have remained unfunded, and neither the FDA approval nor the Phase I Study approval, which is funded by industry investors, would have been possible.
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 aligned perfectly with the opportunities that Swim Across America seeks to support,” said McArdle. “We are so excited that SAA funding could help accelerate it to patient trials – and are thrilled to see the benefits to patients!”
Dr. Choi explained CAR-T cell therapy to the Swim Across America group on April 4, 2025.
After his highly informative presentation, Dr. Choi gave the Swim Across America group a private tour of his lab spaces, which were in the finishing stages of build-out when they toured two years ago.
The group also got to visit the Ether Dome at Mass General, the surgical amphitheater where, in 1846, the first public surgery with anesthesia was performed.
It was an exciting visit for Swim Across America news and for all of the Swim Across America – Boston and Nantucket supporters who were present!
Swim Across America lab visit participants, pictured with Dr. Choi in the Ether Dome at Mass General, site of the first use of anesthesia in public surgery.
Most Swim Across America participants wear their SAA swag with a sense of pride of making an impact in their community. For Natalie Thompson and her family in Nantucket, Massachusetts, it’s more than just an event — it’s a way of life.
“Swim Across America – Nantucket gear is a badge of honor on this island. We swim for the people we see everyday — our neighbors, our friends, and our family — so we can make their fight easier,” said Natalie.
Natalie Thompson, her wife Cassie, and their two sons at a Swim Across America – Nantucket event.
Swim Across America – Nantucket gives grants to on-island cancer treatment and care at Nantucket Cottage Hospital and Palliative and Supportive Care of Nantucket. It also supports glioblastoma research at Mass General Cancer Center in Boston. The unique offering of on-island care allows patients fighting the toughest battle to remain close to home while receiving outstanding treatment.
When it comes to SAA gear, Natalie and her family have plenty. Since 2012, she has participated in the event — in every and any capacity — alongside her wife, Cassie, and their two sons.
“I’ve been part of the setup crew, the breakdown crew, an angel swimmer, a 4-miler… whatever I can do, I do,” said Natalie. “My wife has always volunteered, and now she runs the Falmouth Road Race to support our swim. SAA is just part of our lives. We do it as a team to support our amazing community.”
Natalie first joined SAA-Nantucket to honor her grandmother, who fought breast cancer. As the years went by and Natalie remained involved, cancer would hit close to home not once, but twice more.
“June 2019 changed why I swim for the rest of my life. My wife was diagnosed with ocular melanoma at 33. We had two young boys at the time, and suddenly, we were facing cancer head-on,” she shared.
Natalie swims the 4-mile course while her wife, Cassie, kayaks beside her.
“Eight hours after she was diagnosed we attended a Swim Across America event and I knew we had a support system like no other. No one at the event knew that night of her diagnosis but I left having hope that we would make it through it all. This was the first summer I participated in the 4 mile swim and it was even more impactful having my wife as my kayaker.”
Less than a year later, Natalie’s family was hit with more devastating news.
“In March 2020, our world was rocked again. My dad was diagnosed with stage 4 renal cancer,” Natalie said.
“As soon as I heard the news, Jill Roethke and Jim Pignato, SAA-Nantucket co-event directors, were my first call. The world was shutting down due to COVID, and my dad needed tests to begin treatment. They got me connected to the right people, and in that moment, I knew our family had endless support from our Swim Across America family.”
For as long as SAA-Nantucket is around, Natalie and her family will be there, supporting the mission and their community — a value she’s proud to pass on to her sons.
Natalie and her boys love to match in SAA gear!
“SAA’s impact on the Nantucket community as a whole means that no one fights their cancer battle alone. We are a community on a little island ensuring that cancer patients spend their invaluable time with their families and friends instead of countless hours traveling for treatment elsewhere.”
“My kids have grown up attending the event, and it’s incredible to teach them about this special support system. They know I swim for their grampie and mom. It’s a special moment every year when I finish the 4-mile swim to have my kids see me finish.”
If you’re inspired to support Natalie and Team Thompson, give here.
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.
Swim Across America’s guiding principle is “money raised local, stays local.” It is a model that the organization takes great pride in and helps to deepen participants’ connection to the mission.
This connection is especially evident in communities like Swim Across America – Nantucket, which supports Nantucket Cottage Hospital and Palliative and Supportive Care of Nantucket (PASCON) on the island and Mass General Cancer Center in Boston, MA. The community grants are applied to local hospitals and patient care programs to benefit patients and families within their small, tight-knit island.
Duncan Richardson, a Newton, MA native, and his family have been seasonal visitors to Nantucket for over 36 years which makes it feel like their second home. Duncan joined the SAA – Nantucket community in 2021, and this year, he is swimming in the event for the first time!
Duncan always admired the organization and its mission which became more personal when he was diagnosed with stage four esophageal cancer in 2022. Little did he know how vital the organization’s mission would become to his own life.
Duncan Richardson shared his “Why I Swim” story at the 2023 Swim Across America – Nantucket community event.
“I am a bit of a medical miracle,” said Duncan. “Two years ago, after rapidly losing over 30 pounds, I was diagnosed with Stage IV esophageal cancer — a cancer with a very poor prognosis.”
Duncan received swift care and a treatment plan from his medical team, which included the immunotherapy drug Opdivo (nivolumab) and biweekly chemotherapy infusions.
Duncan and his care team at Nantucket Cottage Hospital where he received treatment for stage four esophageal cancer.
Swim Across America community swims granted funds to doctors and researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center who implemented clinical trials for nivolumab. The promising results from those trials led to the FDA-approval of Opdivo.
“Without Opdivo — and Swim Across America funding — I wouldn’t be here today. I’m incredibly humbled and grateful to anyone who had a part in bringing this research to fruition,” said Duncan.
And the fact that Duncan was able to receive local, easily accessible medical care had been invaluable.
“It is hard to overstate in my cancer journey how important to my wellbeing and that of my family the Nantucket Cottage Hospital professionals have been.” Duncan affirms.
“Their compassionate and quality care gives me and hundreds of other residents and visitors the most important thing you can have in battling cancer — HOPE!”
Duncan is excited for this year’s SAA-Nantucket event, where he will swim the half-mile course with his team, Strokes for Hope. His dedication to Swim Across America is seen with each stroke of his swim.
“That’s why we swim and raise the money for cancer research, the Nantucket Cottage Hospital infusion center and for PASCON. All our strokes are Strokes for Hope!”
“Without Opdivo — and Swim Across America funding — I wouldn’t be here today. I’m incredibly humbled and grateful to anyone who had a part in bringing this research to fruition,” said Duncan.
New Programs Offer Fun, Fresh, and Exciting Ways for College Students to Make a Bigger Impact With Swim Across America
College Swimming Coaches Association of America, Inc. and Vasa are proud partners of College Cup Competition
CHARLOTTE, N.C., September 26, 2023 – Swim Across America (SAA) is pleased to announce two new programs aimed at college students and college swim teams who want to make a bigger impact in their community through leadership, fundraising, and friendly competition. The Swim Across America College Cup features 30+ collegiate, club and alumni teams and more than 1,000 participants all united to make waves in the fight against cancer through swimming. The second program is the SAA College Ambassadorprogram where 21 college swimmers and ambassadors have been selected to represent Swim Across America throughout the school year to help raise awareness on the importance of making waves to fight cancer. Both programs are supported through partnerships with College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) and Vasa, the fitness training company for swimmers.
Swim Across America College Cup
Through December 1, 2023, college or college-affiliated swim teams will compete in the Swim Across America College Cup, a fundraising competition among collegiate teams in the U.S. Teams can participate by registering for one of Swim Across America’s open water charity swims, joining or starting a pool swim, or participating virtually through the SAA My Way program. Participants must be affiliated with a U.S-based college or university to be eligible to compete in the College Cup. Teams may consist of current college students, alumni or a mix of both, and can be as small as one person.
To date, more than 30 teams consisting of 1,000 participants are currently enrolled in the College Cup’s inaugural year. As the college swim season peaks, Swim Across America expects those numbers to increase and encourages teams, clubs and alumni groups who want to join to do so at swimacrossamerica.org/collegecup.
Members of the Emory University Swim and Dive team at the 2023 SAA-Atlanta event.
Members of the Providence College swim and dive teams at the 2023 SAA-Rhode Island event.
“One of the exciting aspects of the Swim Across America College Cup program is that it offers a new way for alumni to stay engaged with their college swim teams,” noted John O’Neill, head coach of the Providence College men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs and a long-time participant in Swim Across America open water swims. “It allows them to lead the next generation of athletes in the swimming world and instill a philanthropic mindset.”
Fundraising by the College Cup teams will support cancer research and clinical trials in the community in which teams register to swim. If teams are participating in a national pool swim, funds support the Swim Across America pediatric cancer research fund. Swim Across America offers 24 open water swims across the country and hundreds of pool swims each year.
The College Cup brings several exciting partnerships to Swim Across America, including the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) and Vasa, a fitness and rehabilitation company focused on peak performance for swimmers, surfers and triathletes.
As part of their partnership, CSCAA will recognize the top individual College Cup fundraiser at their annual awards ceremony.
“We are thrilled to rejuvenate the partnership between Swim Across America and the CSCAA,” said Samantha Barany, executive director of CSCAA. “The philanthropic efforts of Swim Across America are impressive and impact nearly everyone in some way with the fight against cancer. The open water events hosted by Swim Across America are an excellent opportunity for our college teams and athletes to engage in charitable endeavors within a familiar and loved environment – the water. We will continue to find more ways to collaborate and I believe this is just the beginning!”
Vasa will award a Vasa Trainer Pro model to two participating teams. One will be awarded to the top College Cup fundraising team and the second will be awarded to a randomly selected team participating in the College Cup. All teams have the opportunity to win through their participation.
Swim Across America College Ambassadors
Swim Across America is also excited to announce another new college initiative, the Swim Across America College Ambassadors program. College Ambassadors will be the face of Swim Across America at their college or university and lead efforts to raise awareness of Swim Across America’s mission to fund cancer research, clinical trials and patient programs by hosting charity swims. College Ambassadors are passionate about Swim Across America and help engage their peers, promote the Swim Across America mission and brand, and encourage their local communities’ involvement.
Earlier this year, Swim Across America invited college students to apply for the Swim Across America College Ambassadors program. Applicants were asked to share why they are passionate about Swim Across America, highlight any previous leadership experience, and outline their aspirations for participating in the program. More than 30 applications were reviewed by a Swim Across America selection committee and 21 college students were selected to be College Ambassadors for 2023. Students selected represent colleges across the country, including University of South Florida, Roger Williams University and Northeastern University.
Beyond their role as ambassadors, these students also serve as team captains for teams participating in the College Cup or any Swim Across America event. To learn about the Swim Across America College Ambassador program, visit swimacrossamerica.org/ambassadors.
Swim Across America was founded in 1987 with its first open water event in Long Island Sound. Since that time, the nonprofit organization has raised more than $100 million to fight cancer. In its 36 years of making waves to fight cancer, more than 100,000 swimmers and 150 Olympians have swum the circumference of the earth three times, uniting a movement to fight cancer that has created a groundswell of support spanning all generations. Today, more than 24 communities hold open water swims and hundreds of charity pool swims each year, from Nantucket to under the Golden Gate Bridge, which support innovative cancer research, detection and patient programs.
Swim Across America’s funding of clinical trials for patients helped contribute to four FDA approved life-saving immunotherapy cancer treatments: Yervoy, Opdivo, Tecentriq and Keytruda. In June of last year, a clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering was published in The New England Journal of Medicine that 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. The clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering was funded by early-stage grant funding from Swim Across America. More than 60 scientific grants are funded each year and there are now ten dedicated Swim Across America Labs at major institutions including: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, John Hopkins Medicine Atlanta, 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, the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, The Swim Across America Pediatric Research Lab at Columbia University Medical Center New York, and The Swim Across America Laboratory at Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine.
About Swim Across America
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 visitswimacrossamerica.org or follow on Facebook @SwimAcrossAmerica or on Instagram or Twitter @SAASwim.
About CSCAA
Founded in 1922, the CSCAA is the nation’s first professional coaching association for intercollegiate athletics. The CSCAA boasts more than 2,000 member coaches and assistant coaches, recognizes All-American swimmers and divers, NCAA record-breakers and Scholar All-America athletes and teams, as well as outstanding coaches and contributors, and helps oversee the welfare of collegiate swimming and diving. Learn more about CSCAA at cscaa.org.
About Vasa
Vasa empowers swimmers, surfers and triathletes to become stronger, better, faster in sports, fitness and injury rehab. Vasa offers specific equipment such as swim ergometers, trainers, sport benches and other accessories to provide athletes with safe, effective training methods. Founded by Rob Sleamaker, an acclaimed exercise physiologist and author, who has worked with Olympians, biathletes and triathletes as well as some of the world’s most respected swim coaches to reinvent their training practices. Learn more about Vasa at vasatrainer.com.
Team JCT Swim Strong Swim Across America – St. Louis
At Swim Across America, many people ask us, “Are you really swimming across America?” For one team in St. Louis, the answer is, “YES!”
This year, Team JCT Swim Strong will participate in five Swim Across America events, from Nantucket to San Francisco. The swims are in honor of John C. Traube, who passed away five years ago from brain cancer.
Team JCT Swim Strong at the 2023 SAA-Charleston-Kiawah event
The challenge was presented by John’s brother, Steve, to John’s wife, Jen as an opportunity to honor John by doing something he loved – swimming. Jen, and other family members, happily accepted the challenge.
The team started in Tampa, then traveled to Charleston-Kiawah, and then to Nantucket. On August 26, they will swim in the Swim Across America – St. Louis event, and on September 30, they will finish their tour in San Francisco.
Each swim has offered a unique experience for Team JCT Swim Strong, and they are proud to return to their “home base” in the middle of their tour.
“Swimming in the open ocean in Tampa, Charleston-Kiawah and Nantucket was so different from swimming in our own Alpine Lake,” said Jen Traube. “We are Midwesterners, and while the ocean swims were beautiful and really special, there is nothing like swimming in fresh lake water and doing it in your own community.”
Team JCT Swim Strong at the 2023 SAA-Nantucket event
Meredith, Emily and John Traube and Sam Heveroh at the 2017 SAA-St. Louis event.
During his battle with cancer, John raised thousands of dollars for Swim Across America – St. Louis as their top fundraiser. He completed the 2.4-mile swim successfully alongside his family and several high school and college teammates only two days before his second brain surgery.
“John was a master swimmer who found his love of swimming in his community pool in Red Bud, Illinois,” said Jen.
“He continued training and competing as part of his local swim teams throughout his childhood. and then John attended Clarion University in Pennsylvania, where he was a ten-time All American and team captain for the Division II National Swimming Championships all four years. By his senior season, his team ranked second in the country. Swimming was in his blood and he loved Swim Across America.”
Team JCT Swim Strong is led by Steve and Jess, Jen, Meredith, and Emily Traube. Together, the team has a fundraising goal of $30,000.
If you are moved to support Team JCT Swim Strong, you can donatehere.
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 listen to local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Nantucket community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiaries, Nantucket Cottage Hospital, PASCON, and Mass General Cancer Center, at swimacrossamerica.org/nantucket.
Marjorie Trifone Swim Across America – Fairfield County Hometown: Darien, Connecticut 10 years supporting Swim Across America Age: 60
Marjorie (Marj) Trifone is no stranger to leading a strong team. She’s the head coach of the Darien High School Blue Wave Swim Team in her hometown, Darien, Connecticut.
At the Swim Across America – Fairfield County event, she also leads the team, Blue Wave Swim and Dive, whose members are students and alumni of the same high school team. Since 2016, the Blue Wave Swim and Dive team has raised over $27,500.
This year, Marj celebrates 10 years of supporting Swim Across America.
“Swimming is what we do, so I feel it is a wonderful event to be involved with for swimmers,” said Marj. “It shows them the other side of swimming not just for competition but for helping others.”
In addition to her ties to swimming, Marj has a personal connection to Swim Across America’s mission.
“I swim because my mother was a cancer survivor. She had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and underwent an experimental bone-marrow transplant in 1988 at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and then went on to live 21 more years!”
Swim Across America – Boston has supported clinical research at Dana Farber Cancer Institute since its first swim in 1996.
Marj and her family went through a challenging time as her mother bravely battled cancer. This experience is what gives Marj the drive and purpose to swim with the Blue Wave Swim and Dive for Swim Across America – Fairfield County – for family and friends still who have battled or are still struggling with the disease.
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.
Gretchen Hull Swim Across America – Nantucket Hometown: Nantucket, MA 10 years supporting Swim Across America Age: 49
Gretchen Hull is a triple threat supporter of Swim Across America. She’s an oncology nurse and Director of Infusion Services at Nantucket Cottage Hospital, passionate about health and personal wellness, and a swimmer!
In Gretchen’s own words, “the mission of Swim Across America – Nantucket – to support cancer services and research – aligns perfectly with my professional and personal goals.”
Gretchen has worked at Nantucket Cottage Hospital since 2002 and has been involved with Swim Across America for over a decade. It wasn’t until 2014, when Keytruda, of which Swim Across America assisted funding research, first became available at NCH, that she truly felt the impact and miracle of groundbreaking immunotherapy research.
“When Keytruda became available in 2014 there were only two chemotherapy certified nurses at NCH. I was the first nurse at my facility to administer Keytruda for its first indication. I knew it was a pivotal time in cancer care.”
Gretchen watched how the introduction of immune therapy changed the course of patient’s lives and trajectory of cancer diagnosis from terminal to chronic and curative at times. Moreover, how immunotherapy redefined how we view cancer and how cancer treatments have expanded across multiple types of cancer and benefited millions of people.
“I have to emphasize to nurses beginning their practice after the dawn of immunotherapy exactly how groundbreaking it is. I use the term “miracle” when referring to some outcomes.”
This year, Gretchen will swim the 4-mile course at Swim Across America – Nantucket.
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 