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Swim Across America Names 10th Cancer Research Lab at Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute Charlotte-Based Nonprofit Has Contributed More Than $1.4 Million to Cancer Research and Programs at Levine Cancer Institute and Levine Children’s Hospital Since 2017

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Swim Across America, the national nonprofit that raises funds for cancer research through charity swims across the United States, celebrated the official naming of the Swim Across America Hematology and Oncology Translational Research Laboratory at Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte on Sept. 1.

The designation marks the 10th named Swim Across America cancer research laboratory in the country and recognizes the impact that swimmers, volunteers and donors have made in advancing innovative cancer research and treatment.

“The Swim Across America Research Lab at Levine Cancer Institute recognizes our past and future commitments to grant funding that is driving innovation in how cancer is detected and treated,” commented Rob Butcher, CEO of Swim Across America. “Swim Across America’s mission is to fund cancer research. We have named labs at some of the nation’s top cancer centers and are appreciative to have this recognition with Levine Cancer Institute.”

Other Swim Across America named labs are at: 

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York, New York)
  • Johns Hopkins Medicine Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (Baltimore, Maryland)
  • Rush University Cancer Center (Chicago)
  • Weill Cornell Medicine Meyer Cancer Center (New York, New York)
  • Fred Hutch Cancer Center/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (Seattle, Washington)
  • Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (Atlanta, Georgia)
  • UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals (Oakland & San Francisco, California)
  • Baylor Scott & White Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center(Dallas, Texas)
  • Nantucket Cottage Hospital (Nantucket, Massachusetts)

To mark such a momentous occasion, Swim Across America and Atrium Health leaders, physicians and researchers gathered at Levine Cancer Institute for the lab dedication. The lab designation included the unveiling and placement of the laboratory plaque, followed by a behind-the-scenes tour of the cancer research laboratory and discussion of the research being supported by philanthropic funding.

Attendees included: Rob Butcher, CEO of Swim Across America; Patty Waldron, Swim Across America – Charlotte event director; Ruben Mesa, M.D., FACP, president of Advocate Health Cancer National Service Line and executive director of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Mark Griffith, vice president of Atrium Health Foundation NC & GA.

“Gifts from partners like Swim Across America allow us to uphold the ‘loved one standard,’ which is our commitment to providing every patient with the same care we would want for our own families,” noted Dr. Ruben Mesa, president of Atrium Health Levine Cancer.

“Community partners are essential to enhancing cancer care across Atrium Health,” said Mark Griffith, president of Atrium Health Foundation and Advocate Health’s vice president of philanthropy for North Carolina and Georgia. “We are grateful to Swim Across America for helping to expand access to cancer programs and cutting-edge research.”

The lab naming is especially significant for Swim Across America, which is headquartered in Charlotte. Across the country, Swim Across America works to provide critical early-stage funding that can help researchers pursue promising ideas, generate data and move innovative treatments toward clinical trials and ultimately to 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 immunotherapy alone could successfully treat certain types of cancer. The organization also recently awarded two first-of-their-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.

The celebration also comes just weeks before the 10th annual Swim Across America – Charlotte Open Water Swim, which will be held Sunday, Oct. 4, at YMCA Camp Thunderbird on Lake Wylie in South Carolina. Hundreds of swimmers, volunteers, spectators and supporters are expected to come together to “Make Waves to Fight Cancer,” with proceeds supporting Levine Cancer Institute and Levine Children’s Hospital.

The Oct. 4 event begins at 10 a.m. and offers half-mile, 1-mile and 2-mile open water swim distances. Participants may also volunteer, donate or support the event through SAA My Way, Swim Across America’s virtual participation option. For more information, to register to swim or volunteer, or to donate to Swim Across America – Charlotte, visit swimacrossamerica.org/charlotte.

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

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More Than 500 Swimmers and 300 Volunteers Expected at Lake Sammamish; Seattle Swim Has Raised More Than $7 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 18th 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 700 swimmers and volunteers, along with spectators, supporters and Olympians, for a morning dedicated to helping researchers pursue promising new approaches to cancer treatment.

“For 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 Day, captain of Team Martha Ries, who brought Swim Across America to Seattle as the founder emeritus and first Seattle event director for the swim. Day 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 Day 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. Day’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 Day 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 18 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, including her cousin Missy. 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.

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

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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.”

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 – St. Louis, visit swimacrossamerica.org/stlouis.

More than 900 Swimmers to Fight Cancer at 17th Annual Swim Across America – Rhode Island Open Water Swim

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Nation’s Largest Swim Across America Event Will Honor Recently Retired Providence College Coach and Event Co-Founder John O’Neill; Proceeds Support Cancer Research at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island

Swim Across America, the national nonprofit 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, Sept. 12, at Roger Wheeler State Beach, 100 Sand Hill Cove Road, in Narragansett. The event offers a quarter-mile, half-mile or 1-mile open water swim, plus the Kids Splash & Dash. Swimmer registration has reached capacity and closed early, with more than 900 swimmers registered. Volunteers are still needed, and donations and virtual participation through SAA My Way remain open. Proceeds support cancer research at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island. To volunteer, donate or participate virtually, visit swimacrossamerica.org/rhodeisland.

This year’s swim carries added meaning. It will honor event co-founder John O’Neill, who retired this year after 36 seasons leading Providence College Swimming & Diving.

Established in 2010, the Rhode Island swim has raised more than $3 million for cancer research at Women & Infants’ Program in Women’s Oncology. It draws more than 1,000 swimmers and volunteers combined each year, including more swimmers than any other Swim Across America event, and is one of the largest charity open water swims in the country. It also attracts more than 20 collegiate swimming, diving and water polo teams — more than any other Swim Across America event — along with over a dozen age-group and high school teams. Masters swimmers, community members, cancer survivors, researchers, clinicians and caregivers are also part of the day.

Honoring Coach John O’Neill

O’Neill co-founded the Rhode Island swim with Swim Across America in 2010 and has served on its event committee ever since. Through his relationships with coaches and programs throughout New England, he recruited the college teams that now fill the beach each September. He also made the cause part of the culture of Providence College Swimming & Diving, which has raised over $550,000 of the more than $3 million the event has generated for cancer research.

“Coach O’Neill has been the heart of Swim Across America – Rhode Island since its inception,” said Douglas Sayles, event director of Swim Across America – Rhode Island. “He introduced generations of Providence College swimmers to this cause and brought New England coaches and swimming programs together around a shared purpose. Most of all, he has shown young athletes how they can use the sport they love to make a meaningful difference for families facing cancer. We’re grateful to John and glad this year’s swim can help celebrate his career.”

The Sept. 12 swim opens a full day honoring O’Neill. Swimmers, Providence College alumni, colleagues and friends will gather at Roger Wheeler State Beach in the morning, and a retirement reception hosted on campus by Providence College will follow that evening. Reception tickets are $40 and available at bit.ly/oneill-reception.

O’Neill’s reasons for helping start the swim were personal.

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

His commitment deepened as he supported Providence College swimmers who faced cancer themselves, including former student-athletes Colleen Lowell ’97 and Kara McCurdy ’22. McCurdy continued swimming at Providence after her treatment and later joined O’Neill and the Friars at the Rhode Island swim.

For O’Neill, bringing college swimmers together at Roger Wheeler State Beach has always been about more than one morning of swimming.

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

O’Neill came to the sport as a Rhode Island swimmer himself. He swam for the Abbott Run Valley Club, the Cumberland-Lincoln Boys’ Club and Cumberland High School, where he earned All-State honors, and at Springfield College. He founded the Providence College swimming and diving program in 1984 and coached the Friars for 17 seasons, then spent five years as head coach at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He returned to Providence in 2007 and led the Friars for another 19 seasons. During his 36 seasons at Providence, nine of his student-athletes combined to win 20 individual event titles at the BIG EAST Championships.

Away from the college ranks, he coached age-group swimmers at Little Rhody Aquatic Club and Providence Aquatic Club, and directed swim camps in Rhode Island. O’Neill received the CSCAA Swim Across America Service Award in 2016. He was inducted into the Rhode Island Aquatic Hall of Fame in 1994 and received its Ellis Mayers Humanitarian Award in May 2026. Providence College has established the Cindy and John O’Neill Swimming and Diving Endowed Fund in honor of his career and his impact on generations of student-athletes.

About Swim Across America

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 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.

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.

SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – NASSAU/SUFFOLK IN THE NEWS

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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.

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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

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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.

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 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

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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.”

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 – Chicago Open Water Swim on August 8, please visit swimacrossamerica.org/chicago.

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.

Bringing the Good Vibes: Steven Carroll Volunteers with Purpose

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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

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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.

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.

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

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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.”

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.

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.