Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America – Tampa community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiary, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, at swimacrossamerica.org/tampa.
Francesca “Frankie” Grieco-Routh is a kind and caring 13-year-old who loves making art, reading, listening to music, and cheering on her two younger sisters, Emmersan and Augustine. She’s also a leukemia survivor celebrating 10 years of being minimal residual disease (MRD) negative—meaning no cancer cells can be detected in her blood.
“Frankie is so full of life, and her personality is most like Buddy from the movie Elf. She’s full of joy and laughter and wants everyone around her to be happy and comforted,” shared her mother, Giselle. “She loves painting, spending time with family, and being with her service dog, Luna. She’s our warrior.”
This year, the Grieco-Routh family will attend Swim Across America – Tampa Bay on May 10, supported by Emmersan’s team, Team BEST. Emmersan, or Emmie, is an 11-year-old competitive swimmer with St. Petersburg Aquatics and will be a rookie swimmer at this year’s event. She will be joined by friends and teammates to honor her sister Frankie.
The Grieco-Routh family
“Whatever we do, we do it as a family, and we go all in,” said Giselle. “So when Coach Brackin met Emmie and heard our family’s story, she graciously offered to have their team fundraise in Frankie’s honor. Emmie is excited to swim, and doing it for her sister makes it even more special.”
Giselle and her husband, Ryan, moved Frankie, Emmie, and Augustine (August) from Southern California to St. Petersburg, Florida, to be closer to family and ensure Frankie could continue her long-term maintenance care at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital (JHACH). Swim Across America – Tampa Bay raises funds for immunotherapy research at JHACH and has contributed over $2 million to its beneficiaries since 2012.
“The support we’ve received since moving to St. Petersburg has been incredible—not just from the swimming community, but from the amazing team at JHACH. The care Frankie has received there is unmatched,” said Giselle.
Frankie was just three years old when she was diagnosed with leukemia. After months of unexplained illness and several misdiagnoses, Giselle pushed doctors to order a complete series of tests. That’s when they received the devastating news no family wants to hear.
Frankie saw her first movie at the hospital theater while receiving treatment for leukemia.
“The doctor called me and told me to get Frankie to the hospital immediately. Her white blood cell count was extremely high and her body was shutting down. She was rushed into treatment and spent two weeks in the hospital, receiving intense chemotherapy daily and undergoing countless procedures, including weekly spinal taps,” said Giselle.
At the time, Giselle and Ryan had Frankie, 10-month old Emmie, and just found out she was pregnant with their third daughter.
“To say it was overwhelming would be an understatement!” joked Giselle.
Despite everything, Frankie amazed everyone with her strength. Because her immune system was severely compromised, she couldn’t leave her hospital room, but that didn’t stop her from keeping herself entertained with art and movies.
“She would even make art out of her food—stacking bagels and spreading jelly on trays! She was so strong despite being in so much pain,” Giselle shared.
Frankie’s strength extended beyond her own battle—she found ways to comfort other families fighting similar struggles. Even if she couldn’t leave her room, she still sent love and support from afar.
“Every time we heard another family having a tough time—a child crying or a mother sobbing through a broken heart—we’d send them love through our ‘magic fingers,’” Giselle said, as she and Frankie wiggled their fingers in the air.
August, Emmie and Frankie Grieco-Routh
As Emmie takes on open water swimming with her team, Frankie, Giselle, Ryan, and August will be on the beach cheering her on. No matter the challenge, they face it together.
“Whether it’s swimming, gymnastics, or leukemia, we are each other’s biggest cheerleaders and support system. Seeing our daughters support each other through thick and thin makes us incredibly proud.”
If you are inspired to support Frankie, Emmie and Team BEST, give here.
Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Tampa community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiary, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, at swimacrossamerica.org/tampa.
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.”
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.
Swim Across America 