Annual Open Water Swim Aims to Raise $1 Million for Cancer Care on Nantucket and Research at Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute

Swim Across America, the national nonprofit organization that makes waves to fight cancer through charity swims across the U.S., will host its annual Swim Across America – Nantucket Open Water Swim on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Jetties Beach on Nantucket. The community charity swim welcomes swimmers of all ages and skill levels, from first-time open water swimmers to veteran athletes and master swimmers, with swim options including a fun Kids’ Splash, or a quarter-mile, half-mile, 1-mile, 2×2-mile relay and 4-mile swim courses. For those unable to participate in person, a virtual SAA My Way option is also available. Proceeds benefit Nantucket Cottage Hospital, Palliative and Supportive Care of Nantucket and Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute. To register as a swimmer, volunteer, or to support the swim with a tax-deductible donation, visit swimacrossamerica.org/nantucket.

“Swim Across America – Nantucket is a powerful example of what happens when a community comes together with purpose,” said Jill Roethke, co-event director of Swim Across America – Nantucket. “Every swimmer, volunteer, donor and supporter is helping ensure that cancer patients on Nantucket have access to outstanding care close to home, while also supporting groundbreaking cancer research.”

Each year, Swim Across America – Nantucket hosts more than 400 swimmers and volunteers, spectators and supporters, as well as Olympians from near and far, for the annual charity swim. The event raises money for cancer treatment and patient care on Nantucket Island, as well as research at Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute.

Since 2013, Swim Across America – Nantucket has raised more than $6.5 million for its beneficiaries. Last year’s swim raised a record $1 million, and this year’s goal is to match that milestone again.

For Jeff Schneider, a long-time supporter of Swim Across America-Nantucket and the “Why I Swim” guest speaker in 2024, the mission is deeply personal. Schneider and his wife first supported the Nantucket swim as volunteers and fundraisers while their daughter swam in the event. Then, at age 56, Schneider was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer.

“A hell of a thing to be told you have three to five years to live,” Jeff Schneider noted. “A two-year battle ensued. Surgery, radiation and hormone therapy at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has me three years along and in remission. Throwing the kitchen sink at it seems to have done the trick for now, and I enjoy every day with thanks for those that made it happen.”

“This is why I am so committed to doing whatever I can to keep the good work going, of which Swim Across America is so vital to supporting,” Schneider said. “My wife, children and six grandchildren, along with my friends, are grateful for the part Swim Across America played in keeping me around much longer than three to five years.”

Jeff also noted that the Swim Across America community gave him something essential during his cancer journey: hope.

“Throughout my battle with stage 4 prostate cancer I had hope,” Jeff said. “Hope got me through the worst of times. Hope helped me bear the surgery, radiation and the nasty hormone therapy drug Zytiga I had to take for two years. The swimmers that swim for me and my fellow cancer patients and survivors, along with the whole Swim Across America organization, gave me then – and always will give me hope.”

Through its support of Nantucket Cottage Hospital, Swim Across America – Nantucket ensures that island cancer patients don’t face the burden of traveling to the mainland for care. Thanks to a collaboration with Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute, patients have access to academic-level oncology right in their own community — with visiting cancer specialists, and a board-certified advanced practice oncology registered nurse on-site to support patient care. Treatments are at the Swim Across America Infusion Center, where patients receive cancer-directed therapies and supportive care in their own private rooms, which are a warm, unhurried setting where the very best academic medicine meets the comfort of home.

Swim Across America – Nantucket also supports Palliative and Supportive Care of Nantucket, which provides direct care and services to adult patients and families coping with cancer, and continues to expand its holistic approach through wellness activities and innovative therapies. Care is provided by a team that includes a nurse practitioner, part-time RN-nurse specialist, palliative care counselor, program assistant, chaplain, and volunteers. Services are provided in any setting and are offered free of charge through donations and grants. PASCON also offers a cancer conducts cancer support group which is open to the public and provides a welcoming space for patients and loved ones at any stage of the cancer journey twice a month and PASCON works directly with the Nantucket Cottage Hospital oncology staff to help meet patients’ needs, highlighting the importance of a collaborative, patient-centered approach.

At Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute, proceeds from Swim Across America – Nantucket support the research of Bryan Choi, MD, PhD, who specializes in surgical care for patients with benign and malignant brain tumors. Choi also leads a research laboratory focused on developing the next generation of cell therapies and clinical trials in neuro-oncology.

“The impact of this swim is felt in many ways,” said Jim Pignato, co-event director of Swim Across America – Nantucket. “It helps patients receive care here on the island, supports families during incredibly difficult moments and fuels research that can lead to better treatments for cancer patients everywhere. Jeff’s story is a powerful reminder that research matters, and that the money raised by Swim Across America truly can change lives.”

For Jeff Schneider, the event is a way to say thank you to the swimmers, volunteers and supporters who raise money for cancer research and care.

“The Swim Across America community is such a blessing to those of us who have battled cancer,” Jeff noted. “The support we feel is more than anyone who has not been the recipient of that special kind of love would know. From the deepest part of my soul, I can only say thank you and what can I do to help.”

Nationally, Swim Across America has raised more than $150 million for cancer research since its founding in 1987 and has helped fund clinical trials that contributed to the FDA-approved cancer immunotherapy medications Keytruda, Opdivo, Yervoy and Tecentriq. In the past year, Swim Across America funded a breakthrough clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering that showed that immunotherapy alone could successfully treat certain types of cancer. The organization also recently awarded two first-of-its-kind gene editing innovation grants to the Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, advancing novel CRISPR gene and base editing techniques used in targeted therapies, immunotherapies and cellular therapies. Swim Across America supports more than 60 cancer research projects annually, has eight named Swim Across America labs, and supports work at many of the nation’s leading cancer institutions.

For those interested in swimming, volunteering or donating to the Swim Across America – Nantucket Open Water Swim on July 25, please visit swimacrossamerica.org/nantucket.

Swim Across America, Inc. (SAA) is dedicated to raising money and awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment through swimming-related events. With open water and pool swims in 27 communities across the United States – from Nantucket to under the Golden Gate Bridge – Swim Across America, along with the help of thousands of swimmers and volunteers nationwide, and past and current Olympians, is helping find better treatments and a cure for cancer through athleticism, community outreach and direct service. To learn more, visit swimacrossamerica.org.