SAA – San Francisco’s Susan Helmrich Interviews “Why We Swim” Author Bonnie Tsui in Virtual Conversation

Posted on June 3, 2020June 3, 2020 Posted in #MakingWavesToFightCancer, olympiansTagged cancer, community service, event, News, PhilanthropyLeave a comment

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Swim Across America – San Francisco Event Director and cancer survivor Susan Helmrich will be interviewing “Why We Swim” author Bonnie Tsui in a Zoom Conversation this Wednesday, June 3rd. Topics will include all things swimming, community and the reasons “why we swim.” Susan Helmrich has been the Event Director for SAA – San Francisco for 13 years and her “Team Susan Survives” is consistently a top national fundraising team for Swim Across America.

“Susan has been a member of U.S. Masters Swimmers for decades and a daily swimmer for most of her life — except during her three bouts with cancer. An epidemiologist, she has studied how over-the-counter and prescription medications affect women’s health and the effects of physical activity on health and well-being” says Berkeley City Club, the host of the virtual conversation.

Both women are avid swimmers and excited to talk about what draws them to the water and what they love about swimming. The Zoom Conversation will take place on Wednesday, June 3rd at 7:00 p.m. PST (10:00 p.m. EST). Swimmers and non-swimmers alike are invited to participate. RSVP here: sydneyc@swimacrossamerica.org.

Speedo USA and Swim Across America Donating Goggles

Posted on April 6, 2020April 17, 2020 Posted in #DefeatCancer, #MakingWavesToFightCancer, #SwimAcrossAmericaTagged cancer, coronavirus, covid-19, Donation, Goggles, News, Philanthropy, speedo3 Comments

Speedo USA and Swim Across America have teamed up to donate 2,000 goggles to Swim Across America hospital beneficiaries. The goggles are offered as protective eyewear to hospital medical staff. Screen Shot 2020-04-06 at 1.03.35 PM

“Our hospital partners shared a need for protective eyewear so we reached out to Speedo USA to see if they might be able to help,” commented Rob Butcher, Swim Across America CEO.

Swim Across America-Dallas team captain Alan Wright of Baylor Oncology shows off his SAA spirit.

“Many of Speedo’s athletes support Swim Across America so when we were approached with the need and that we could help, we were delighted to do so,” shared Andy Long, CEO of Pentland Brands.

Swim Across America hosts charity swims with the proceeds funding cancer research. If you feel inspired, you may donate to Swim Across America through this link.

Swim Across America Awards a Record $6 Million in Grants to Fight Cancer for 2020

Posted on December 13, 2019October 20, 2020 Posted in #MakingWavesToFightCancer, asco, Events, Fundraising, Grant, Labs, News, UncategorizedTagged cancer, cancer research, facts, News, Philanthropy, record, swim across america, transparency1 Comment

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In 1987, an inaugural charity swim was hosted across Long Island Sound that raised $5,000 for cancer research. Since then, Swim Across America charity swims have granted nearly $100M that has funded innovative cancer research and clinical trials. Swim Across America grants have played a major role in the development of immunotherapy, detection, gene therapy and personalized medicine. The impact is that families who hear “you have cancer” are more than ever hearing “there is hope.”

In 2020, Swim Across America will be awarding a record $6 million in cancer research grants that will fund more than 50 projects and programs at the following beneficiaries: Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (Connecticut), Baylor Scott & White Sammons Cancer Center (Dallas), Cancer Support Team (Westchester, NY), RUSH University Medical Center (Chicago), Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (New York), Columbia University Medical Center (New York), Dana- Farber Cancer Institute (Boston), Feinstein Institute for Medical Research (New York), Medical University of South Carolina Hollings Cancer Center (Charleston), Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (Baltimore), Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital (Tampa), Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute (Charlotte), MassGeneral Hospital for Children (Boston), MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York), Moffitt Cancer Center (Tampa), Nantucket Cottage Hospital, Palliative and Support Care of Nantucket, Siteman Cancer Center (St. Louis), Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, UC Benioff Children’s Hospitals (San Francisco and Oakland), Children’s Hospital Colorado (Denver), University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center (Detroit), VCU Massey Cancer Center (Richmond) and Women and Infants Hospital (Rhode Island).

In addition to these grants that are being funded by Swim Across America charity swims within their community, Swim Across America is awarding $120,000 in grants to the Conquer Cancer Foundation (American Society of Clinical Oncology—ASCO) and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) that will fund young investigators who have promising ideas to fight cancer.

For more information, please visit swimacrossamerica.org

SWIM ACROSS AMERICA FAMILY TREE (OCTOBER 2019)

Posted on October 30, 2019October 30, 2019 Posted in #DefeatCancer, Events, Family Tree, Fundraising, Labs, News, olympians, UncategorizedTagged cancer, media, News, olympians, swim across america, televisionLeave a comment

SAA Family Tree is a monthly focus on stories that display the impact all the members of the Swim Across America family have both locally and nationally. If you have a story or link you’d like to share, please send here.

Swim Across America

Brand on Purpose Podcast with Aaron Kwittken

Learn how to Swim to Save a Life. This Charity Raised Nearly $100 million to Directly Fund Therapies to Defeat Cancer. A Conversation with Swim Across America’s Rob Butcher and Board Chair Pam Ryan from Goldman Sachs

SAA – Richmond

James River Swim to Benefit Cancer Research in RVA (ABC 8 News – WRIC)

SAA-Richmond Event Director Jay Peluso and Dr. Santiago Lima of VCU Massey Cancer Center promoted the swim on WTVR

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SAA – Atlanta

Hundreds of Swimmers Will Dive Into Lake Lanier To Support Cancer Research (WSB-TV)

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SAA – Denver

Local Event Director Nicole Vanderpoel and SAA Patient Ambassador Lauren Alfino Made Waves on Local Television (Colorado & Company)

SAA – Charlotte

Swim Across America CEO Rob Butcher and Team Captain Patty Waldron appeared on FOX 46

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SAA – San Francisco Bay

Participants Marissa Vickers and Dr. Robert Goldsby of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals were featured in this Wall Street Journal story “You’ve Survived Cancer. What Comes Next?

SAA – Baltimore

With yearly swim, Mt. Hebron High junior raises money for cancer research at Magothy River event (Baltimore Sun)

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Dr. Jonathan Webster of Johns Hopkins and Patient Ambassador Vanessa Brandon promoted Swim Across America on Midday Maryland

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SAA – Dallas

North Texas Swimmers Raise Money for Local Cancer Research (NBC DFW)

Lake Ray Hubbard swim event helps raise money for cancer research (FOX 4 DFW)

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SAA – St. Louis

Swim Across America CEO Rob Butcher and champion swimmer Mallory Comerford promoted the upcoming swim on FOX 2!

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SAA – Catalina Relay Team

The six relay swimmers representing SAA crushed their 54-mile relay swim this September! It only took them 28 hours and they are now the 11th team EVER to complete this swim around Catalina Island! Not to mention they have raised over $60,000!

SAA – Rhode Island

A Special Message on behalf of SAA -Rhode Island from Olympian Elizabeth Beisel and Providence College Coach John O’Neill

SAA FAMILY TREE (JULY 2019)

Posted on July 16, 2019 Posted in #DefeatCancer, Events, Family Tree, Fundraising, Labs, News, olympians, UncategorizedTagged cancer, media, News, olympians, swim across america, televisionLeave a comment

SAA – Baltimore

Eight Annual Fins for A Cure Makes Splash for Cancer Research (Severna Park Voice)

SAA – Denver

Local Event Director Nicole Vanderpoel and SAA Patient Ambassador Lauren Alfino Made Waves on Local Television (Colorado & Company)

SAA – Charleston-Kiawah

Local Event Director Brad Johnson was featured in The Island Connection

SAA – Boston

Marietta’s Safalow continues to swim for charity (Marietta Daily Journal)

SAA – Nantucket

Celebrate Our Impact event at Nantucket Cottage Hospital

SAA – Fairfield County
- Greenwich shows support for Swim Across America Fairfield County (Greenwich Time)

SAA FAMILY TREE (MAY 2019)

Posted on May 6, 2019May 6, 2019 Posted in #DefeatCancer, Events, Family Tree, Fundraising, Labs, News, olympians, UncategorizedTagged cancer, media, News, olympians, swim across america, televisionLeave a comment

SAA – Baltimore

Anne Arundel County swim teams raise nearly $17,000 to fight cancer. (Capital Gazette)

SAA – St. Louis

Tierney Selected for CSCAA Swim Across America Award (College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America)

SAA – Denver

Logging laps with Olympians: Making Waves to Fight Pediatric Cancer (Fox31 Denver)

SAA – Houston

As her husband completes brain tumor treatment, caregiver swims to help others (MD Anderson Cancer Center)
Family makes waves to fight cancer (Tribune Chronicle)

SAA – Atlanta

SwimAtlanta clinic to feature five Olympians, raise money for Swim Across America’s cancer research (Gwinnett Prep Sports)

SAA – Tampa Bay
- Event Director Amy Maguire and Carli Taymans, a local high school student, joined AM Tampa Bay

Swim Across America Honored at the Value-Based Cancer Care Summit

Posted on November 1, 2018November 2, 2018 Posted in #MakingWavesToFightCancer, olympiansTagged cancer, community service, event, News, PhilanthropyLeave a comment

Olympians Craig Beardsley, Rowdy Gaines and Steve Lundquist

The 8^th annual Value Based Cancer Care Summit brought together more than 300 thought leaders in academic, government, pharmaceutical and biotech. Change and innovation are happening at a fast pace in the field of healthcare and especially oncology. The purpose of the two-day summit was to create an active dialogue among the stakeholders in oncology care that ultimately will improve the quality of patient care.

Swim Across America, which has granted over $80 million dollars into cancer research, clinical trials and prevention, was selected as the beneficiary for the summit. Several of the oncologists shared during panel discussions the importance of Swim Across America’s early stage grant funding and how SAA’s funding has helped lead to breakthroughs and FDA approvals of new immunotherapy treatments.

In a personal testimonial, Dr. Jedd Wolchok of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center eloquently shared that SAA grant funding has helped numerous young investigators move forward their research ideas, many of whom are immigrants and are the pioneers in immunotherapy and personalized medicine.

Olympian and SAA ambassador Rowdy Gaines attended the summit giving a keynote talk about the 1980 Olympic boycott and how he persevered against the odds to win three gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic games. Rowdy also shared how cancer has touched his life, losing his stepfather and sister to the disease.

The evening reception was attended by the Swim Across America Board of Directors, Olympians Steve Lundquist and Craig Beardsley, and the leaders from our SAA-Long Island Sound and SAA-Fairfield County charity swims. The reception was dedicated to Swim Across America as we shared stories from survivors, volunteers, and participants.

It was an honor for Swim Across America contributions to be recognized and it was meaningful to be part of these important discussions as we strengthened our relationships and lifted our goodwill.

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SAA FAMILY TREE (OCTOBER 2018)

Posted on October 17, 2018October 18, 2018 Posted in #DefeatCancer, Events, Family Tree, Fundraising, Labs, News, olympians, UncategorizedTagged cancer, media, News, olympians, swim across america, televisionLeave a comment

SAA – Charleston-Kiawah

Event Director Brad Johnson promoted our 2nd annual swim on Kiawah Island Golf Resort.

SAA – Seattle

Dan Benoit and Matt Jennings represented SAA – Seattle on KING5 News.

SAA – Dallas

Fox4 profiled a Mother-Son Duo that took on the challenge of #MakingWaves together.

SAA – Atlanta

This 11Alive Recap of the Atlanta swim and ‘Amazing’ Grace Bunke’s legacy at the swim is a fitting tribute: “Hope has no finish line.”

SAA – Baltimore

Captains of Clarke’s Sharks represented the Baltimore swim on Midday Maryland!