Hundreds Dive In at 17th Annual Swim Across America – Seattle Open Water Swim on September 12 to Make Waves to Fight Cancer

Posted on August 20, 2026 Posted in UncategorizedTagged cancer, cancer research, fundraising, health, hospital, media, News, olympians, seattle events, seattle fundraising, seattle research, seattle swimming, swim across america, swimming, televisionLeave a comment

More Than 600 Swimmers and Volunteers Expected at Lake Sammamish; Seattle Swim Has Raised More Than $6 Million for Early-Stage Cancer Research and Clinical Trials at Fred Hutch Cancer Center

Swim Across America, the national nonprofit organization that makes waves to fight cancer through charity swims across the U.S., will host the 17th annual Swim Across America – Seattle Open Water Swim on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Lake Sammamish State Park’s Sunset Beach, 2010 NW Sammamish Road, in Issaquah, Washington. Swimmers can choose a half-mile, 1-mile or 2-mile open water swim, and volunteers on land and in the water are also needed. Those unable to participate in person can still make waves to fight cancer through SAA My Way, Swim Across America’s virtual option. Proceeds support early-stage cancer research and clinical trials at Fred Hutch Cancer Center. To register to swim, volunteer or donate, visit swimacrossamerica.org/seattle.

Established in 2009, Swim Across America – Seattle has raised more than $6 million for Fred Hutch Cancer Center. Each year, the event brings together more than 600 swimmers and volunteers, along with spectators, supporters and Olympians, for a morning dedicated to helping researchers pursue promising new approaches to cancer treatment.

“For 17 years, this community has shown up for patients, families and researchers with an extraordinary amount of heart,” said Scott Whelan, co-event director of Swim Across America – Seattle. “The money raised at Lake Sammamish provides the kind of early funding that can help researchers take an innovative idea, gather the evidence and move it closer to a clinical trial or a new treatment. Every swimmer, volunteer and donor is part of that process.”

For Janie Lemley, captain of Team InMemory, this year’s swim comes after cancer research and treatment became more personal than ever. Janie Lemley formed Team InMemory in 2021 after growing tired of losing family members and friends to cancer. Then, in September 2024, her husband of 42 years, Dave Lemley, struggled to finish his Swim Across America swim. At the time, neither knew why. Two months later, Dave was diagnosed with plasma cell leukemia, a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer.

By April 2025, Dave was at Fred Hutch having his stem cells collected through apheresis. He subsequently received a double stem cell transplant, with transplants in May and June at the Veterans Affairs hospital’s Bone Marrow Transplant Unit.

“Especially after this cancer journey with Dave, I am more determined than ever to raise money for cancer research,” Janie Lemley said. “Many of the clinical trials for stem cell transplants happened here in Seattle at Fred Hutch. If you are able, please donate in order to give hope and healing to future cancer survivors.”

Janie Lemley originally named Team InMemory to honor those her family and teammates had lost, including her father-in-law Dr. Paul Lemley, her cousin Rosalie Proko and her grandfather Raymond P. Buck. This year, the list grew again when she lost her cousin Anne “Sissin” Winton to colon cancer in April.

The Lemleys’ story reflects the reason Swim Across America – Seattle has spent nearly two decades investing in early-stage research: discoveries made in the laboratory can ultimately become the treatments available to patients and families facing cancer.

“It is one thing to talk about the potential of research; it is another to have members of our own Swim Across America family experience firsthand the treatments and procedures that years of research helped make possible,” said Beth Hykes, co-event director of Swim Across America – Seattle and co-team captain of Dogs for the Cause: mission pawsable.“Janie and Dave remind us exactly why we keep coming back to Lake Sammamish and why supporting researchers at the earliest stages of discovery matters.”

Another participant who has been part of the Seattle swim from the beginning is David Dey, captain of Team Martha Ries and a former Swim Across America – Seattle event director.

Dey and his wife, Martha Ries, helped organize, swim and raise funds for Fred Hutch beginning with the inaugural Seattle event in 2009. In 2015, Martha was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She endured two rounds of chemotherapy, surgeries and a clinical trial before passing away on May 29, 2016, just 10 months after her diagnosis.

David Dey has continued the work they began together.

Throughout the years, cancer has touched his family and friends repeatedly. Martha’s sister Margaret had a cancerous brain tumor successfully removed in 2023 and is now in remission. Dey’s sister-in-law Dana passed away in March 2025 after a four-year battle with colorectal cancer, while another sister-in-law, Mia, is currently battling breast cancer. His friend and fellow triathlete Bill Kinsella died from pancreatic cancer in 2017.

“We started Swim Across America – Seattle in 2009 when our kids were just 6 years old,” David Dey noted. “Much has happened since then, and we have made a difference in the fight against cancer. Our private funding is the initial angel-funding investment that helps researchers further discoveries that can become breakthrough treatment therapies. Today, private funding is particularly important for researchers to continue making discoveries.”

The research supported by Swim Across America – Seattle has included projects exploring new therapies for colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer and lung cancer, as well as CAR T-cell immunotherapies and treatments for lymphoma and leukemia.

Current top fundraiser Linda Warren, captain of Team No Limits, has also participated since the inaugural Seattle swim and continues to return in honor and memory of the growing number of friends, relatives and colleagues in her life who have faced cancer.

“This is Year 17 for the Swim Across America Seattle fundraising swim, and I’ll be back in the water with Team No Limits,” Linda Warren said. “There are too many impacted by cancer now to name — friends, family, colleagues — each one a reason I keep coming back to this swim.”

For Linda, progress against cancer comes from years of persistent scientific work — and from ensuring promising researchers have the resources to continue that work.

“When I’m in the water this September, it’s about those I love,” Linda said. “It’s about making sure that the next family member or friend who hears the word ‘cancer’ has better odds than the last one did.”

Beth Hykes has her own reason for returning year after year. She first swam with Swim Across America in 2010 and joined the volunteer Seattle organizing team in 2015. This year, she and Paul Ulrickson are co-captains of Dogs for the Cause: Mission Pawsable, a team inspired by the belief that early funding can give researchers the opportunity to pursue ideas with the potential to change cancer care.

Beth swims in honor of several family members and friends touched by cancer and in memory of others she has lost. She is also joined in her Swim Across America efforts by her golden retriever, Casey.

“I want to be part of the change that helps give more families hope,” Beth said. “You don’t have to be a swimmer to make an impact. You can volunteer, swim in person or virtually, join a team or make a donation. There are so many ways to be part of this mission.”

Paul Ulrikson’s reason for participating is similarly rooted in the people cancer has taken and those still fighting it.

“Since our last swim, goodbyes have been said to family and good friends because of cancer, while others have been diagnosed or had a recurrence,” Paul shared. “I choose to stay hopeful. Two partners foster that hope: Swim Across America and Fred Hutch Cancer Center. Through donations, we can and are making a difference.”

Other swimmers are carrying entire families with them into Lake Sammamish.

Suzanne Koontz will swim the 2-mile course with family members Atticus and Emily in honor of her brothers Fred and Jerry, both cancer survivors; Fred’s wife, Elena, a cancer and stroke survivor; and her brother Jeff Nelson, who is undergoing treatment for skin cancer. She also swims in memory of loved ones who did not survive cancer, including Jim Koontz.

“Many of us have family and friends who have been touched by cancer,” Suzanne said. “Let’s continue this work toward fighting this battle.”

Swim Across America – Seattle participants have also seen the promise of cancer research through survivors including Debbie Buck, who is in remission from breast cancer, and Jeff Sloan, a stage 4 melanoma survivor whose treatment was made possible by advances in cancer research.

For the hundreds gathering at Sunset Beach on September 12, those stories — of survival, loss, research and hope — are what transform an open water swim into something much larger.

“Everyone at the beach has a name, a face or a story that brought them here,” Beth Hykes noted. “Together, those individual stories become a community determined to make the future different for the next person who hears the words, ‘You have cancer.’ That is what it means to make waves to fight cancer.”

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 more information, to join as a swimmer, volunteer, or to participate virtually or donate to Swim Across America – Seattle, visit swimacrossamerica.org/seattle.

Swimmers to Dive Into San Francisco Bay September 12 to Make Waves to Fight Cancer at Swim Across America – San Francisco Bay Area Open Water Swim

Posted on August 20, 2026 Posted in UncategorizedTagged california swimming, cancer, cancer research, charity swim, charity swimming, fundraising, health, media, olympians, san francisco, san francisco events, san francisco swimming, swim across america, swimming event california, televisionLeave a comment

More Than 500 Swimmers, Volunteers and Supporters Expected; Bay Area Swim Has Granted More Than $7 Million to Support Pediatric Cancer Research and Survivorship Programs at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals

Swim Across America, the national nonprofit organization that makes waves to fight cancer through charity swims across the U.S., will host the 21st annual Swim Across America – San Francisco Bay Area Open Water Swim on Saturday, September 12, 2026. The iconic 1.5-mile point-to-point swim starts at Little Marina Green, 3650 Yacht Road, in San Francisco, and finishes in Aquatic Park. Swimmers, volunteers and kayakers are invited to participate and help raise funds for pediatric cancer research and patient care supporting the swim’s beneficiary UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals in Oakland and San Francisco. Those who cannot participate in person can still make waves to fight cancer through SAA My Way, Swim Across America’s virtual option. To register, volunteer or donate, visit swimacrossamerica.org/sanfrancisco.

Established in 2006, Swim Across America – San Francisco Bay Area has granted more than $7 million to support the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute and the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital San Francisco Survivors of Childhood Cancer Program. Each year, the charity swim brings together more than 500 swimmers, volunteers, spectators and supporters, along with Olympians and other special guests, for one of the Bay Area’s most memorable open water events.

“For 20 years, this community has shown what can happen when individuals take something they love — swimming — and turn it into a way to help families facing cancer,” said Laura Hovden, co-event director of Swim Across America – San Francisco Bay Area. “More than $7 million has gone directly to our local UCSF programs because swimmers, volunteers, kayakers, donors and teams keep showing up year after year. Our swim is about coming together, making waves and giving patients more hope and researchers more funds to make a difference.”

Few embody that commitment more than longtime swimmer, former San Francisco event director and three-time cancer survivor Susan Helmrich, captain of Team Susan Survives and one of this year’s leading fundraisers.

This year marks 49 years since Susan Helmrich’s first cancer diagnosis. She was just 21 years old when she was treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Her second cancer diagnosis came 28 years ago. In 2009, she faced cancer for a third time and underwent a 6½-hour Whipple procedure for neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer, followed by 23 days at Stanford Hospital.

Through it all, Susan has made raising money for cancer research a central part of her life. Throughout the years, Team Susan Survives has raised more than $1 million for local pediatric cancer research programs. As Susan approaches her 71st birthday, she has set an ambitious goal for this year: recruit 71 swimmers, kayakers, runners, cyclists, yogis, dancers, hikers, walkers and other supporters to Team Susan Survives and together raise $171,000 through the open water swim and SAA My Way.

“I am honored and proud to have survived cancer three times, and I want nothing more than to have anyone who ever gets a cancer diagnosis have the chance to live and survive as I have,” Susan said. “As the years go on, I realize that I am committed more than ever to raising money to help investigators, researchers, physicians and support services find a cure for cancer in our lifetime.”

Susan Helmrich is also swimming in memory of her mother, Edna Helmrich, who passed away in 2019 at age 92 and was herself a 53-year breast cancer survivor.

“She was my role model and my hero,” Susan said. “This year, I’m hoping that friends, old and new, from near and far will join me and Team Susan Survives to raise money for pediatric cancer research at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals in San Francisco and Oakland.”

Another team entering the San Francisco Bay this year will be carrying the memory of someone deeply loved.

Team Batt Bunch, also known as KeckCrewSF, is captained by Mike Keck and will swim in honor and memory of Brian Batt, husband of Rene and father of swimmers Amelia and Sarah Batt. The team has participated in Swim Across America for many years, but its fight against cancer became profoundly personal when Brian was diagnosed with cancer.

Even while undergoing treatment, Brian remained determined to be there for his daughters. He scheduled his treatment so he could travel to England when Amelia and Sarah participated in an English Channel relay in 2022, where Amelia had the honor of touching France for the team, and again for their Loch Lomond swim in 2024. During treatment, Brian continued showing up at Aquatic Park to cheer the girls on during their training swims. Brian succumbed to cancer in the fall of 2025.

“Brian fought with strength, courage and dignity, and he kept showing up for his family through all of it,” Mike Keck said. “For years, we swam with Swim Across America to fight cancer. Then that fight became very real for our family and our team. Brian is missed terribly, but we will carry on just like he did, and we hope what we do can help spare other families from experiencing that same loss.”

The money raised by swimmers such as Helmrich, Keck and their teammates is already helping scientists at UCSF pursue promising new approaches to pediatric cancer.

Julie Saba, M.D., Ph.D., a UCSF pediatric oncologist, cancer researcher and director of the Swim Across America-supported research laboratory at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, leads research examining the genetic and metabolic drivers of childhood cancers. Her research team has identified important genetic drivers of neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer, and has shown that disrupting the gene’s activity can prevent neuroblastoma cells from forming tumors. This research could ultimately offer a new avenue for targeting cancers in which the AF1q gene plays a role. Swim Across America funding helped support this work.

Saba also leads the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland Swimmers, now in its eighth year participating in the San Francisco event.

“Without Swim Across America, I could not undertake the high-risk, high-reward studies that we believe hold benefit for the children and adults with cancer of tomorrow,” Saba said. “Nonprofit support of research is more important than ever.”

For Swim Across America – San Francisco Bay Area Co-Event Director Jackie NeJaime, the connection between the swimmers and researchers is what makes the event especially powerful.

“Our swimmers get to see exactly why their fundraising matters,” Jackie said. “Researchers like Dr. Saba are pursuing ideas that might otherwise struggle to get early funding, while our survivorship programs are helping young people long after their cancer treatment ends. When we swim from Little Marina Green to Aquatic Park, we know where the money is going and the impact this community is helping make.”

The event is also inspiring a new generation of swimmers to get involved.

Friends of Armada, captained by Julie Herson, returns for its third year with youth competitive swimmers from Albany Armada Aquatics Club. The team has already raised more than $17,000 during its involvement with Swim Across America and is working to raise even more this year for UCSF patients, physicians and researchers.

Also returning is UCSF Team Newborn, captained by Tom Shimotake, M.D., which will mark its 15th year participating in the San Francisco Bay swim. The team is made up of friends and supporters of the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Intensive Care Nursery who share a commitment to fighting childhood cancer. Nearly one-quarter of pediatric malignancies are diagnosed during the first year of life, giving the team’s mission a particularly close connection to the patients its members serve.

Among the San Francisco community’s other leading fundraisers this year is Berkeley marathon swimmer Maya Merhige, who completed both the North Channel and Strait of Gibraltar this summer as part of her quest to complete the Oceans Seven. Merhige will be away at college on the day of the San Francisco swim but continues to raise funds for Swim Across America and its cancer research mission.

From cancer survivors to families swimming in memory of loved ones, young competitive swimmers and UCSF physicians and researchers, the September 12 swim will bring together hundreds with a shared goal: using the waters of San Francisco Bay to help create better outcomes for people facing cancer.

“Whether this is your first open water swim or you’ve been swimming in the Bay for decades, there is a place for you in this community,” Laura Hovden noted. “Swim, kayak, volunteer, create your own SAA My Way activity or support someone who is participating. Every person can help us make waves to fight cancer.”

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 more information, to join as a swimmer, volunteer or kayaker, or to participate virtually or donate to Swim Across America – San Francisco Bay Area, visit swimacrossamerica.org/sanfrancisco.

Hundreds Dive in on Saturday, August 29, the 11th Annual Swim Across America – St. Louis Open Water Swim to Make Waves to Fight Cancer

Posted on August 20, 2026August 20, 2026 Posted in UncategorizedTagged breast cancer, cancer, cancer research, college swimming, fundraising, health, media, News, olympians, siteman cancer center, st louis, st louis events, st louis swimming, swim across america, swimmers, swimming, television, travel, wellnessLeave a comment

Nearly 600 Participants Expected at Alpine Lake to Raise Funds for Siteman Cancer Center; Team IBK Rallies Around Teammate Jean Roberson During Her Own Pancreatic Cancer Journey

Swim Across America, the national nonprofit organization that makes waves to fight cancer through charity swims across the U.S., will host the 11th annual Swim Across America – St. Louis Open Water Swim on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Alpine Lake at Innsbrook Resort in Innsbrook, Missouri. Participants can choose from a half-mile, 1-mile or 2-mile open water swim, with proceeds supporting cutting-edge cancer research at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine. Those who cannot swim in person can still volunteer, donate or participate virtually through SAA My Way. Learn more at swimacrossamerica.org/stlouis.

Since its launch in 2016, Swim Across America – St. Louis has raised more than $2.3 million for Siteman Cancer Center. During the past decade, the event has grown into one of the largest gatherings for the regional swim community, welcoming nearly 600 participants each year, along with hundreds of volunteers, spectators and supporters and appearances by Olympic gold medalists and other special guests. The swim has reached capacity for the past four years.

This year, one of the reasons swimmers are diving in, is to support one of their own. Jean Roberson, a longtime Swim Across America participant who spent years raising money for others facing cancer, has unexpectedly found herself on the other side of that equation.

Roberson has participated in Swim Across America – St. Louis since 2019, with her husband volunteering alongside her. Last year, the couple expanded their commitment by hosting a fundraiser at their Alpine Lake home as part of the 2025 Swim Across America weekend. They also created Team Jessica in memory of Roberson’s niece, who passed away from cancer in her mid-20s.

Then, approximately six months ago, Roberson received her own devastating diagnosis: pancreatic cancer.

After undergoing chemotherapy, Roberson had major surgery in July and is continuing her follow-up treatment, including care through Siteman Cancer Center. This year, instead of simply swimming in memory and honor of others touched by cancer, members of the Swim Across America community are now swimming for her.

Roberson is a member of Team IBK, a group of more than 45 swimmers representing the Innsbrook community and beyond. The team is captained by Bill Wilson, a cancer survivor himself and one of the event directors for Swim Across America – St. Louis.

“Jean has supported Swim Across America for years as a swimmer, fundraiser and friend, always focused on helping other patients and families,” Wilson said. “Now our community has the opportunity to rally around Jean. Her story is an incredibly powerful reminder of why we do this and why funding cancer research is so important.”

Team IBK has become a fundraising powerhouse within the St. Louis swim. Last year, the team raised more than $70,000 and has continued an unbroken streak as the top fundraising team at Swim Across America – St. Louis, while also ranking among the organization’s top teams nationally.

“Team IBK will once again represent the community of Innsbrook and beyond on Saturday, August 29, as we participate in the 11th annual Swim Across America – St. Louis Open Water Swim at Alpine Lake,” Wilson said. “We will support the fight to find a cure by participating, volunteering and raising funds to support cutting-edge research at Siteman Cancer Center. May it lead to a cancer-free world.”

Wilson will once again swim a mile at this year’s event while captaining Team IBK. For him, each trip across Alpine Lake represents friends and loved ones who have faced cancer as well as his own experience as a cancer survivor.

“I swim in honor of those who have fought, or are fighting, this insidious disease and in memory of the dear friends I have lost to it,” Wilson said.

The connection between Swim Across America – St. Louis and Siteman Cancer Center is especially meaningful to participants such as Roberson and Wilson because money raised in the community stays in the community, supporting innovative cancer research that can ultimately lead to new treatments, clinical trials and better outcomes for patients.

“Every swimmer, volunteer and donor at Alpine Lake is part of something much larger than a one-day swim,” Wilson said. “We have seen firsthand how cancer research changes lives. When nearly 600 people come together in one place with the same goal, it sends an incredibly powerful message to patients and families that they are not fighting cancer alone.”

For more information, to join as a swimmer, volunteer, or to participate virtually or donate to Swim Across America – St. Louis, visit swimacrossamerica.org/stlouis.

Hundreds of Swimmers Set to Dive in at 17th Annual Swim Across America – Rhode Island Open Water Swim to Make Waves to Fight Cancer and Honor Retiring Providence College Coach John O’Neill on September 12

Posted on August 20, 2026 Posted in UncategorizedTagged books, cancer, cancer research, college fundraising, college retirement, college swimming, fiction, fundraising, history, life, media, News, olympians, providence, rhode island, swim across america, swimming, writingLeave a comment

Nearly 900 Swimmers and Volunteers Expected at Roger Wheeler State Beach; Nation’s Largest Swim Across America Event Has Raised More Than $3 Million for Cancer Research at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island

Swim Across America, the national nonprofit organization that makes waves to fight cancer through charity swims across the U.S., will host the 17th annual Swim Across America – Rhode Island Open Water Swim on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Roger Wheeler State Beach, 100 Sand Hill Cove Road, in Narragansett. Swimmers of all ages are invited to participate in a quarter-mile, half-mile or 1-mile open water swim, as well as the Kids Splash & Dash. Those unable to participate in person can still make waves to fight cancer through SAA My Way, Swim Across America’s virtual option. Proceeds support cancer research at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island. To register to swim, volunteer or donate, visit swimacrossamerica.org/rhodeisland.

Established in 2010, Swim Across America – Rhode Island has raised more than $3 million for cancer research at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island. Each year, the swim attracts nearly 900 swimmers and volunteers, making it the largest Swim Across America event in the country. The Rhode Island swim also attracts close to a dozen collegiate swim teams — more than any other Swim Across America event nationwide — along with Olympians and other special guests, including Rhode Island native and Olympic medalist Elizabeth Beisel.

This year’s swim will be especially meaningful as the Swim Across America community celebrates a longtime participant who has helped make the Rhode Island event what it is today: Providence College Swimming & Diving Head Coach John O’Neill, who is retiring this year after an extraordinary 36 seasons leading the Friars.

The September 12 Swim Across America – Rhode Island open water swim will serve as the morning kickoff to a full day celebrating Coach O’Neill, with swimmers, Providence College alumni, former athletes, colleagues and friends coming together at Roger Wheeler State Beach to honor his commitment to swimming — and to cancer research. A retirement reception honoring O’Neill will follow later that evening on the Providence College campus.

Coach O’Neill’s involvement with Swim Across America – Rhode Island has spanned 16 years. Through his relationships with coaches and collegiate programs throughout New England, he has helped build the Rhode Island swim into the Swim Across America event with the largest collegiate participation in the country. Providence College Swimming & Diving alone has raised more than $550,000 to support cancer research in support of Swim Across America – Rhode Island’s local beneficiary, Women & Infants Hospital.

“Coach O’Neill has been such an important part of Swim Across America – Rhode Island for the past 16 years,” said Doug Sayles, event director of Swim Across America – Rhode Island. “He has brought generations of Providence College swimmers into this event, helped engage college programs from throughout New England, and most importantly, shown young athletes how they can use the sport they love to make a meaningful difference for families facing cancer. We are incredibly grateful to John and thrilled that this year’s swim can be part of celebrating his remarkable career.”

Coach O’Neill originally became involved with the Rhode Island swim because cancer had touched the lives of too many people he knew.

“Too many family members and friends have been lost to cancer and we wanted to do something that could help,” Coach O’Neill said of his involvement with Swim Across America.

His commitment to the cause became even more personal as he supported Providence College swimmers who themselves faced cancer, including former student-athletes Colleen Lowell ’97 and Kara McCurdy ’22. McCurdy continued swimming at Providence after battling cancer and later joined O’Neill and the Friars at the Swim Across America – Rhode Island event.

For Coach O’Neill, bringing college swimmers together at Roger Wheeler State Beach has always been about more than one morning of swimming. He has encouraged student-athletes to see how their sport can be used to make a difference for patients and families and has hoped their connection to Swim Across America will continue long after graduation.

“Our Rhode Island Swim is unique with so many college participants involved,” Coach O’Neill said in a previous Swimming World article about the event. “We hope that once the students graduate and relocate, they stay involved with Swim Across America no matter where their future takes them!”

That legacy will be on full display September 12 as generations of Providence College swimmers and members of the greater New England swimming community gather to celebrate O’Neill while continuing the cause that has been so important to him.

O’Neill first took over the Providence College swimming and diving program in 1984 and coached the Friars for 17 seasons before spending five years as head coach at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He returned to Providence in 2007 and has led the Friars for another 19 seasons. During his 36 seasons at Providence, nine of his student-athletes combined to win 20 BIG EAST individual championships. Coach O’Neill was inducted into the Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame in 1994 and this year received its Elliss Mayers Humanitarian Award. Providence College has also established the Cindy and John O’Neill Swimming and Diving Endowed Fund in honor of his career and lasting impact on generations of student-athletes.

The connection between Coach O’Neill, collegiate swimming and Swim Across America reflects what has made the Rhode Island swim distinctive for nearly two decades: hundreds of athletes, coaches, families, cancer survivors, volunteers and supporters using the sport they love to help fund research that can change the lives of cancer patients.

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 more information, to join as a swimmer, volunteer, or to participate virtually or donate to Swim Across America – Rhode Island, visit swimacrossamerica.org/rhodeisland.

SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – NASSAU/SUFFOLK IN THE NEWS

Posted on August 3, 2026August 4, 2026 Posted in #DefeatCancer, #MakingWavesToFightCancer, #SwimAcrossAmerica, beneficiaries, Events, Family Tree, Fundraising, Labs, Nassau/Suffolk - Sound to Cove, News, olympians, UncategorizedTagged cancer, media, News, olympians, swim across america, televisionLeave a comment

Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Nassau/Suffolk community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiaries at swimacrossamerica.org/ns.

SWIM ACROSS AMERICA BLOG – SAASWIM.COM

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Swim Across America in Glen Cove, Long Island | Full Coverage | CBS New York

Patient Ambassadors and Colorado Supporters Make Waves to Fight Cancer at 9th Annual Swim Across America – Denver Open Water Swim August 22

Posted on July 29, 2026August 3, 2026 Posted in UncategorizedTagged cancer, cancer research, colorado swim, denver events, denver swim, fundraising, health, media, News, olympians, swim across america, swimming, swimming denver, swimming in colorado, travelLeave a comment

Community Charity Swim at Chatfield Reservoir Benefits Pediatric Cancer Research at Children’s Hospital Colorado

Swim Across America, the national nonprofit organization that makes waves to fight cancer through charity swims across the U.S., will host the 9th annual Swim Across America – Denver Open Water Swim on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Chatfield Reservoir at Chatfield State Park, 9700 S. Wadsworth Blvd., in Littleton. Swimmers of all ages and skill levels can choose a half-mile, 1-mile or 2-mile course, while younger participants can join the Kids’ Balloon Splash. The event also includes a High School Cup, and supporters can volunteer on land or in the water, donate to an individual or team, or participate virtually through SAA My Way. The morning begins at 6:30 a.m. with kayak and paddleboard volunteer arrival and swimmer registration from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. To register, volunteer or donate, visit swimacrossamerica.org/denver.

Since the Denver chapter launched in 2018, its open water and community pool swims have raised more than $1.2 million for locally directed pediatric cancer research projects at the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Hospital Colorado. The center is one of the nation’s largest pediatric cancer programs and provides children, adolescents and young adults access to hundreds of clinical trials and research studies advancing treatments for leukemia, brain tumors and other cancers and blood disorders.

“Each year, we have so many swimmers and volunteers who have a personal connection to making waves to fight cancer,” said Nicole Vanderpoel, co-event director of Swim Across America – Denver. “This includes some of our patient ambassadors, who are the heart of Swim Across America – Denver because they show exactly why early research, clinical trials and compassionate care matter. Teagan and Garrett, two of our long-term patient ambassadors, have faced extraordinary challenges with courage and optimism. When our community swims, volunteers and raises money, we are investing in more hopeful futures for children and families facing cancer.”

Teagan Gorney, one of this year’s patient ambassadors, was midway through kindergarten when she began struggling to gain weight, sleeping through dinner and feeling constantly tired. She continued attending school with her usual bubbly personality, but a school nurse noticed her pale face and urged her parents to seek medical care. After repeated urgent care visits produced no answers, Teagan was taken to an emergency room near her home in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and immediately referred to Children’s Hospital Colorado. There, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and began treatment four days later.

At diagnosis, Teagan’s liver and spleen were so enlarged that she had difficulty walking and getting in and out of bed. After six weeks of treatment and physical therapy, she was in remission, and she returned to school within three months. Teagan completed two and a half years of chemotherapy in April 2017 and is now cancer-free. Today, she is a cheerful, outgoing high school sophomore and a proud member of her local swim team, where backstroke is her favorite event. She also participates in 4-H archery and enjoys playing with her family’s puppy. She continues follow-up visits with Amanda Winters, M.D., the physician who helped guide her family from the moment they arrived at Children’s Colorado. Teagan shares her story to raise awareness and help other young patients know they are not alone.

Returning patient ambassador Garrett Rymer was diagnosed with a rare spinal cord cancer on December 23, 2022, at age 15. Months of unexplained weakness in his right arm after a minor bicycle accident led to an MRI at Children’s Hospital Colorado, where doctors discovered the tumor. During a nearly nine-hour surgery in January 2023, surgeons removed about half of the tumor before signs of neurological damage forced them to stop. When Garrett awoke in intensive care, he temporarily could not see or move his legs and had no feeling from the waist down.

By the next morning, Garrett’s sight had returned. He spent three weeks in rehabilitation learning to walk again and recovering his strength, and he was able to go climbing the day he was discharged. Garrett later enrolled in a clinical trial using an oral chemotherapy treatment rather than weekly infusions. He has now been off chemotherapy for more than a year, and the remaining tumor has stayed stable. Although he continues working to restore function in his right arm, Garrett says he has an excellent prognosis and a bright future. “Coming from someone who wouldn’t be alive today without the generous donations put toward cancer research, your involvement with SAA might just save a life,” Rymer said.

Swim Across America – Denver committee member Holden Bank will again volunteer and swim in memory of dear friends Wayne Matejik and Rob Maurer, who sadly passed away from leukemia, as well as Jeff Conklin, a close friend from his Duke swimming days who recently succumbed to pancreatic cancer. Bank also swims in support of the event’s patient ambassadors and for the children and grandchildren whose futures may be changed by the research funded today.

“Every swimmer and volunteer arrives at Chatfield Reservoir with a reason to be there,” Nicole Vanderpoel noted. “Some are celebrating survivorship, some are still in treatment and others are honoring friends and family members they miss every day. When those stories come together, they create a powerful community that is truly making waves to fight cancer.”

Swimmers may participate individually or form a team, and water volunteers are needed to support the course by kayak or paddle board. Those who are not able to attend can donate to a participant or team or create a personal SAA My Way challenge on their own timeline. All funds raised by Swim Across America – Denver support pediatric cancer research at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

For those interested in swimming, volunteering or donating to the ninth annual Swim Across America – Denver Open Water Swim on August 22, please visit swimacrossamerica.org/denver.

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.

Hundreds to Dive in to Lake Michigan on August 8th to Make Waves to Fight Cancer at 33rd Annual Swim Across America – Chicago Open Water Swim

Posted on July 29, 2026 Posted in UncategorizedTagged cancer, cancer research, chicago, chicago event, chicago fundraising, chicago swimming, fundraising, health, life, media, News, swim across america, swimming, television, wellnessLeave a comment

Swim Raises Funds for Cancer Research for the Swim Across America Lab at Rush Cancer Center (Rush)

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 – Chicago Open Water Swim on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Ohio Street Beach, 600 N. Lake Shore Drive, in Chicago. The community 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 half-mile, 1-mile and 2-mile swim, as well as the Miracle Mile competitive race option. For those unable to participate in person, a virtual SAA My Way option is also available. Proceeds support cancer research and leading-edge patient care at Rush. To register to swim, volunteer or support the swim with a tax-deductible donation, visit swimacrossamerica.org/chicago.

Established in 1994, Swim Across America – Chicago partnered with Rush in 2012 and has since donated more than $3 million to support cancer research and clinical trials. Funds raised through the swim support early-stage research and clinical trials for a variety of cancer types at the Swim Across America Lab at Rush.

“Swim Across America – Chicago is an incredibly meaningful event for our community as it brings together swimmers, volunteers, cancer survivors, families, researchers and supporters who all share one mission: making waves to fight cancer,” said Alyse Mauro Mason, co-event director of Swim Across America – Chicago. “Since partnering with Rush in 2012, this swim has raised more than $3 million to support critical cancer research and clinical trials. Every swimmer, every volunteer and every donor is helping fund research that can lead to better treatments, better outcomes and more hope for patients and families.”

Each year, Swim Across America – Chicago hosts more than 280 swimmers and volunteers, spectators and supporters, as well as Olympians from near and far, for the annual charity swim in beautiful Lake Michigan, in downtown Chicago.

This year’s swim will include a special tribute to longtime Swim Across America – Chicago swimmer and supporter Stephen “Steve” Schlegel, who sadly passed away in February after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Schlegel was a pivotal part of the Chicago swim community and started Team Anne, Mike and Friends after losing his daughter Anne, to non-Hodgkin lymphoma when she was just 31. His family has continued to face devastating losses from cancer; Schlegel’s son-in-law John, husband of his daughter Jeanne Skaggs, also passed away from pancreatic cancer earlier this year.

“Steve Schlegel gave so much of himself to Swim Across America – Chicago, and his legacy will always be part of this swim,” noted Alyse Mauro Mason. “He turned unimaginable loss into action, creating a long-time team and helping build a community committed to funding cancer research. This year, as we honor Steve, we also honor Anne, John and every family that has been touched by cancer. His impact will continue to inspire us every time we gather at Ohio Street Beach.”

The impact of Swim Across America – Chicago can be seen in the research it helps support. After Swim Across America’s support, Rush was honored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with the Director’s Transformative Research Award, one of the NIH’s most prestigious and exclusive awards. The award provides funding for innovative pancreatic cancer research and is given to exceptionally creative scientists proposing high-risk, high-impact research. Rush credits this recognition with being funded first by Swim Across America – Chicago, which provided a foundation for which to build on.

“This is exactly why Swim Across America matters,” Katie Marchetti noted, who is a co-event director with Mauro Mason. “The funds raised through this swim help provide support for promising research, and that support can lead to larger grants, new discoveries and progress for cancer patients. It is incredibly meaningful to know that our swimmers and supporters are helping move cancer research forward.”

For swimmer Tom Boucher, this year’s Swim Across America – Chicago will have a very different meaning. In past years, Boucher participated in the event to honor those who had been touched by cancer and had made a difference in his life. This year, he will swim as a cancer survivor himself.

In November 2025, Tom was diagnosed with stage 2 lung cancer. In January 2026, he had surgery at Rush to remove the cancer. Four weeks later, he swam his first lap. He also needed four rounds of chemotherapy and is now considered to be in remission and swimming full-time again.

Boucher said the team at Rush changed his life. “As I approach the start line of the swim on August 8 this year, I’m asking my friends and family to support me in this cause to help raise money for the Rush cancer center,” Tom Boucher said. “Rush changed my life. The funds raised will go to their center and will support critical cancer research.”

For many Swim Across America – Chicago participants, the event is about honoring loved ones, supporting cancer patients and survivors, and helping fund the research and clinical trials that can lead to new treatment options.

“Tom’s story is a powerful reminder of why this swim matters,” Alyse Mauro Mason commented. “Swim Across America – Chicago is not just a swim. It is a community taking action for cancer patients, survivors and families, and helping support the researchers and clinicians working every day to change the future of cancer care.”

For those interested in swimming, volunteering or donating to the Swim Across America – Chicago Open Water Swim on August 8, please visit swimacrossamerica.org/chicago.

Bringing the Good Vibes: Steven Carroll Volunteers with Purpose

Posted on July 28, 2026 Posted in UncategorizedTagged cancer, health, life, writingLeave a comment

When Steven Carroll arrives at Swim Across America – Dallas this year, he won’t be diving into the water. Instead, he’ll be behind the microphone as the event DJ, helping create an atmosphere of celebration, hope and inspiration for everyone to enjoy.

*Steven during treatment for multiple myeloma.*

For Steven, every song played and every smile shared has a deeper purpose.

In July 2022, Steven was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Since his diagnosis, he has undergone a stem cell transplant, countless treatments and continues to receive monthly care. Thanks to advances in cancer research, he’s able to spend more time with his wife, Donna, their children, grandson and loved ones.

“The treatments that have given me more time exist because someone before me invested in cancer research,” Steven said. “I want to help create that same hope for the people who will hear the words, ‘You have cancer,’ tomorrow.”

Now, Swim Across America holds special meaning because Steven has experienced firsthand how research changes lives. Every dollar raised supports the discoveries that give patients more treatment options, more hope and more time. Proceeds from the Swim Across America – Dallas event support the Texas Cancer Interception Institute at Baylor Scott & White Cancer Center.

*Steven and Janel Jorgensen McArdle, Swim Across America COO, at the 2025 SAA-Dallas event*

“Every breakthrough isn’t just a medical milestone,” he said. “It’s another birthday, another anniversary, another chance for a family to make memories together.”

It’s the family who inspired Steven to adopt his mantra, “Fight Like a Freak” that helped him during his battle.

“My sister Lori Lee, who recently passed away from ovarian cancer, told me one day, ‘You’re just fighting like a freak.’ I loved it, so I decided to make that my motto,” shared Steven.

He wore a shirt emblazoned with the word “freak” to every appointment and treatment. It was a reminder to keep fighting no matter what.

“Every story matters,” Steven said. “If sharing mine encourages someone to volunteer, donate or simply keep fighting, then it’s worth telling.”

By bringing energy, encouragement and hope to the SAA-Dallas event, Steven is helping ensure that every participant, survivor and family member knows they are part of a mission creating more tomorrows for families facing cancer.

If you are inspired to support SAA-Dallas, give here.

Among Nearly 1,000 Swimmers Making Waves to Fight Cancer July 25, Mamaroneck’s Ryan Harrell Will Be One of Just 14 to Swim 10K Across Long Island Sound

Posted on July 16, 2026 Posted in UncategorizedTagged books, fiction, health, travel, writingLeave a comment

Longtime swimmer dedicates his 2026 swim to Mariah Aldridge, a 32-year-old mother with colon cancer, whose final journey home he helped make possible

LARCHMONT, N.Y., July 14, 2026 — When Ryan Harrell, 42, of Mamaroneck, New York, enters the water in Glen Cove, New York, on Saturday, July 25,he will be one of 14 swimmers attempting the 10k crossing of Long Island Sound as part of the 34th annual Swim Across America – Long Island Sound open water swim. As he swims toward the finish at the Larchmont Shore Club, Ryan will carry with him the memory of a young mother who passed away too soon from cancer, whose final wish he helped fulfill.

This year, Ryan is dedicating every stroke of that crossing to Mariah Aldridge, a 32-year-old mother with colon cancer, whose final wish was to return home to Albertville, Alabama, and spend her remaining time with family and friends. She had been receiving hospice care in Santa Ana, California, but complications from her illness prevented her from traveling commercially. Ryan learned of her situation through social media, and with the help of his employer Soar Jets, a private jet charter company, he was able to arrange a flight for Mariah. With support from her friends Joslyn Marie, Justin Nunley and Chris Young, the flight became possible. Mariah was able to leave California, return to Alabama and fulfill her wish of spending her final days with those she loved most.

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to help Mariah in her final wish of being surrounded by family and friends,” Ryan noted. “That experience changed me. In my 25th year swimming with Swim Across America, I am dedicating every stroke I take in her honor. While we lost Mariah to cancer, we didn’t lose the chance to know someone as extraordinary as her in this world. Her love endures, her memory lives on, and her spirit lives on in every life she touched, including mine.”

Mariah’s cancer battle underscores the urgent need for cancer research – and one Swim Across America is tackling with its support of critical cancer research with its beneficiaries Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, Weill Cornell Medicine and Cancer Support Team.

Since its first Westchester County swim in 1992, Swim Across America – Long Island Sound has raised more than $32 million for cancer research, care and patient support services in the New York City area for its local beneficiaries.

Following a record-breaking fundraising year last year, the 2026 goal is to raise $2.5 million. The open water swim is joined by eight community pool swims across Westchester County running June 26 through Aug. 1.

“Every year, our Swim Across America – Long Island Sound community reminds us that this event is about hope, action and the power of coming together,” said Jean Fufidio, event director of Swim Across America – Long Island Sound. “Whether someone swims 10K, 5K or 2K in Long Island Sound, joins a pool swim, participates virtually through SAA My Way, or comes out to volunteer on the land or water, every stroke and every dollar helps support the doctors, researchers and caregivers who are making breakthroughs in cancer care.”

The upcoming 2026 Swim Across America – Long Island Sound swim schedule in Westchester County, New York, includes: Coveleigh Club Pool Swim, Rye, Wednesday, July 15, 3 to 5:30 p.m.; Orienta Beach Club Pool Swim, Mamaroneck, Saturday, July 18, 6:15 to 9:30 a.m.; Chappaqua Swim & Tennis Club Pool Swim, Chappaqua, Sunday, July 19, 8 to 10:30 a.m.; Leewood Golf Club Pool Swim, Eastchester, Tuesday, July 21, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Swim Across America – Long Island Sound open water swim on Saturday, July 25, in Larchmont; Larchmont Shore Club Half-Mile Pool Swim, Saturday, July 25, 8 to 9:30 a.m.; Scarsdale Golf Club Pool Swim, Hartsdale, Thursday, July 30, 4 to 6 p.m.; and Lake Isle Club Pool Swim, Eastchester, Saturday, Aug. 1, 7 to 9:30 a.m.

Those interested in swimming, donating or volunteering, including boaters, kayakers and paddleboarders at the July 25th open water swim or swimming at the pool swims, can register and support the cause at swimacrossamerica.org/longislandsound.

For Ryan, his connection to Swim Across America is 25 years in the making. He originally started swimming with Swim Across America in 2001, when he was a student at Iona Prep and swam with the Badger Swim Club. He joined the event in honor of Bill Weaver, a close family friend from New Rochelle who had pancreatic cancer. Ryan’s father, then principal of Davis Elementary School in New Rochelle, helped his teenage son learn how to fundraise by encouraging the school’s teachers and staff to contribute.

“I was incredibly fortunate to have my father help me raise money when it was entirely new to me,” Ryan said. “Mr. Weaver will forever be the reason I started this journey, but sadly, the list of people who need our support has continued to grow.”

Today, Ryan trains year-round with Team Masters under coach Dave Samuelsohn. His mother is a cancer survivor, and he has lost his best friend’s father and sister, whom he considered family, to the disease. He also swims for friends who are still undergoing treatment.

“I swim for those who are fighting this disease,” Ryan added. “My motivation is to swim to raise as much money as possible to help anyone currently facing this battle.” For Ryan, swimming across Long Island Sound is a way to transform heartbreak into action – one stroke and one donation at a time.

As Mariah’s story and the flight home have helped spread awareness, supporters have also rallied around Ryan’s Swim Across America fundraising. He has already raised more than $15,000, while his Team Masters collectively has raised close to $75,000, just in 2026. But there is still a need for more.

To learn more about Swim Across America – Long Island Sound or to register to swim, volunteer or donate, visit swimacrossamerica.org/longislandsound. To support Ryan directly or Team Masters, visit swimacrossamerica.org/longislandsound and click on Ryan’s name or Team name.

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, visit swimacrossamerica.org/longislandsound, or follow on Facebook @SAALongIslandSound and Instagram @SAA_LIS.

Two Teens Take on Monumental Task of Running the Inaugural Swim Across America – Martha’s Vineyard Open Water Swim on July 18, 2026

Posted on July 14, 2026July 14, 2026 Posted in UncategorizedTagged books, cancer, health, reading, writing1 Comment

Swim Across America’s two newest event directors, Leah Thomson and Zoe Treitman, both residents of Martha’s Vineyard, are only 17-years-old and high school juniors. Thomson and Treitman were inspired to launch a Swim Across America event on their own island of Martha’s Vineyard after seeing last year’s Swim Across America – Nantucket open water swim raise $1 million to fight cancer. They believed Martha’s Vineyard could do the same – or better! After all, there has always been a friendly competition between the neighboring islands. The fundraising goal for the swim in its first year is $200,000.

For Leah Thomson, the cause is deeply personal. She was four years old when her grandmother, Susan Parker, her mom Rebekah’s mother, was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer and only five years old when her grandma passed away. Her great-aunt Aiko Nakamura also sadly lost her battle with cancer several years ago. Leah has other family members currently battling cancer and their fights have inspired her to jump in and help organize the swim in their honor. They include D.L., her grandfather’s second wife, who was diagnosed with lung cancer last year and is currently recovering well; her great-uncle Jonathan and great-aunt Ellie, who are each facing cancer diagnosis; and her long time tennis mentor, Jay Grossman, who sadly lost his battle with cancer this April.

“I was inspired to get involved with Swim Across America for my Grammy, for family members who are facing cancer and for my dear friend and coach Jay Grossman,” said Leah Thomson. “Swimming is nothing compared to the challenges our loved ones with cancer face. By helping put on this event, I can help make a difference and swim for those who can’t – and with my community’s support, I know it will help make a significant impact on cancer care on our island.”

Leah also noted that leading the Swim Across America open water swim has also given her a meaningful way to turn a challenge into action. “Swim Across America has introduced me to an entire family of brilliant, loving and compassionate individuals and it has given me a way to play a small part in the fight against an awful disease that I have seen way too many people suffer from.”

Co-event director Zoe Treitman also has her own family’s experience with cancer that has fueled her commitment to the event. Her grandmother Leonora had colon cancer and lost her battle when Zoe was in second grade. She also has long been inspired by her grandfather Rick Treitman, who has participated in the Pan-Mass Challenge to raise money for cancer research.

“So many on Martha’s Vineyard and beyond are affected by cancer, and I want to help make their quality of life better – all while raising funds locally that stay local, supporting Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute Martha’s Vineyard Hospital here on the island,” said Zoe Treitman. “Cancer has taken so many of our loved ones, and we want to do all we can to fight it. I hope our community will come out and join us on Saturday, July 18, at Menemsha Beach and help us make waves to fight cancer!”

Rebekah Thomson, Leah’s mother, is playing a supporting role if needed, but is mostly there to proudly watch her daughter Leah and friend Zoe run the event. “I’m really proud of the ambition that Leah and Zoe have to organize this event and their passion for making a difference,” said Rebekah. “To take on running a major event is a huge endeavor for anyone of any age, but for Leah and Zoe to just be 17, it is a major accomplishment. I’m here to support them and help guide them, if they need it, but they are already taking the reins and running with the tasks needed to manage and hold a successful fundraiser and sporting event.”

The inaugural Swim Across America – Martha’s Vineyard open water swim on Saturday, July 18, 2026, will be held at Menemsha Beach in Chilmark, Massachusetts, on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. The swim will raise funds for its local beneficiary Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and support cancer care on the island. Hundreds are expected to dive in and make waves to fight cancer, swimming at this iconic location. Swimmers, land and water volunteers (boaters, kayakers, stand up paddle boarders) are encouraged to register for this inspiring event. Those interested in participating can learn more and register at swimacrossamerica.org/marthasvineyard and follow on instagram or facebook @saamarthasvineyard.