Kate Murphy
Swim Across America – Baltimore
Age: 72
Kate Murphy witnessed firsthand how important funding is to the cancer field. In fact, she credits having her husband Arnold Simon for an additional six years to his enrollment in a clinical trial at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins.
“Arnold was diagnosed in 2016 with Stage 4 metastasized pancreatic cancer,” said Kate.
“After he was successfully treated, we wanted to give back to the community and jumped at the chance to volunteer for the Swim Across America – Baltimore open water swim.”
The Swim Across America – Baltimore charity swim supports clinical trials and cancer research at Johns Hopkins.
“Arnold was so very grateful for everything the doctors and staff at Hopkins had done for him,” said Kate. “After months of chemotherapy, and then major surgery in December of 2017, my husband’s tumor was so small it looked like a small dot or even scar tissue. He was MOST impressed with the results from Dr. Dung Le’s chemotherapy trial.”
Their enthusiasm over Arnold’s results is what prompted him and Kate to get involved with Swim Across America – Baltimore. Unfortunately, their plans of attending the event were thwarted by mother nature.
“We signed up in 2018, but Hurricane Florence took that one away. Our first time volunteering at an SAA event was in 2019. We helped set things up and Arnold was a featured speaker addressing the audience that day about his experience with cancer and the research at Hopkins. Then 2020’s event was virtual, but we were back in 2021 and I returned in 2022.”
It was 2018 when Arnold was doing well, and Kate turned her attention to her own health. She made doctor’s appointments she had put off and found out she had early-stage breast cancer. Kate was treated at Johns Hopkins with surgery and radiation and, thankfully, is in remission.
Kate attended the 2022 SAA-Baltimore event in September, shortly after Arnold’s passing. Though she was grieving, it was important to her to give thanks to and show her appreciation for those who cared for Arnold through his treatments.
“Sadly, Arnold passed away in July of 2022. It was tragic for our family and all who knew him, and so very sad for me; but because he was able to be treated in Dr. Le’s clinical trial at Johns Hopkins, he survived Stage 4 metastasized pancreatic cancer, not just six weeks or six months, but almost six years!” said Kate.
“I volunteered once again at last year’s Swim Across America event just two months after Arnold passed. It was important for me to honor Arnold’s ‘helping others’ legacy and continue to let everyone know how very grateful I am to all who swim and volunteer and donate money to support cancer research at Johns Hopkins. I got an incredible six years with Arnold because of them.”
Kate says she will continue to support Swim Across America – Baltimore in any way she can – as long as it doesn’t include swimming!
“I can’t swim (literally, I can’t swim!), but I can donate, and I can volunteer. And I will be there cheering on the swimmers and fundraisers as long as I can!”
If you are moved to support Kate Murphy, you can donate here.
Swim Across America has raised $100 million since its inception in 1987 to support cancer research and clinical trials across the U.S. Please contact Jeni Howard at jhoward@jhowardpr.com for media inquiries.
Swim Across America 