On September 25th, 2021, three-time Olympian Elizabeth Beisel completed the 10.4-mile ocean swim from mainland Rhode Island to Block Island. Elizabeth partnered with Swim Across America for “Block Cancer” to honor her father, Ted Beisel, who passed in 2021 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Elizabeth became the first woman to successfully complete the swim raising over $160,000.
THE GRANTS
In addition to the $160,000 Elizabeth raised, Swim Across America raised an additional $500,000, with appreciation to the Lustgarten Foundation, to create a $660,000 grant bucket. The $660,000 is being applied to three grants to fight pancreatic cancer in honor of Ted Beisel:
a) A $60,000 grant to Dr. Peter Yu (NYU) pancreatic research metabolism study was awarded in 2022 b) A $300,000 grant to Dr. Ajay Goel (City of Hope) to conduct research for pancreatic detection was awarded in 2023 c) A $300,000 grant for pancreatic research will be announced in April of 2024
Photo: Elizabeth presents the award to Dr. Yu at Swim Across America—Rhode Island
On September 25th, three-time Olympian and 2016 Team USA Captain Elizabeth Beisel made history as the first woman to swim the 10.4 miles from mainland Rhode Island to Block Island. She undertook this open-water challenge as a fundraiser for Swim Across America (SAA) to benefit cancer research and patient programs in honor of her father, Charles “Ted” Lyons Beisel, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in July. To date this charity swim has raised over $163,000.
Thanks to photographer Cate Brown, we have some great images to share from that historic day below.
We appreciate the support of all the Olympians and special guests who have donated their time to support the SAA cause in 2019. These Olympians have attended our swims and special events generating awareness and raising donations for our beneficiaries. Thanks for all you do for SAA!
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – HOUSTON
Camille Adams, Ricky Berens
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – Fairfield County
Cristina Teuscher and Craig Beardsley
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – BOSTON
Eric Wunderlich, Alex Meyer and Janel Jorgensen McArdle
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – DETROIT
Peter Vanderkaay and Chris Thompson
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – CHARLESTON-KIAWAH
Hannah Aspden, Steve Gregg and Jenny Thompson
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – CHICAGO
Tom Beeri, Dave Sims, Kat Simonovic and Sebastian Rousseau
SAA – LONG ISLAND SOUND
Cristina Teuscher and Katie Meili
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – ST. LOUIS
Ryan Berube, Ryan Held and Mallory Comerford
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – DENVER
Ashley Twichell,
George DiCarlo, Haley Anderson, Kara Lynn Joyce, Lindsey Mintenko, Missy Franklin, Scott Usher, Susan von der Lippe
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – NANTUCKET
Craig Beardsley
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – RHODE ISLAND
Elizabeth Beisel
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – SEATTLE
Nathan Adrian, Mary Wayte Bradburne, Emily Silver
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – BALTIMORE
Theresa Andrews, McClain Hermes, Brenda Borgh Bartlett
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – SAN FRANCISCO
Heather Petri, Dana Kirk, Ericka Lorenz, Kristy Kowal, Susan Heon-Preston, Staciana Stitts Winfield, Mike Bruner, John Moffet, Nicolle Payne, Rada Owen, Ashley Whitney and Christine Magnuson
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – CHARLOTTE
Lauren Perdue, Hannah Aspden, Karlee Bispo, Madison Kennedy
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – ATLANTA
Missy Franklin, McClain Hermes, Steve Lundquist, Maritza Correia McClendon, Megan Neyer, Amanda Weir, Peter Wright, Nei-Kuan Chia, Eric Wunderlich, Neil Versfeld, Andrew Gammell, Camille Adams, Paige Northcutt
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – DALLAS
Ryan Berube, Andrea Hayes Dickson and Jim Montgomery
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – SMAC OUT CANCER POOL SWIM
Susan Heon-Preston, Kristy Kowal and Mike Bruner
MICHAEL PHELPS & SWIM ACROSS AMERICA CHARITY SWIM
Michael Phelps, Allison Schmidt, Craig Beardsley, Bob Bowman
We appreciate the support of all the Olympians who have donated their time to support the SAA cause in 2018. These Olympians have attended our swims and special events generating awareness and raising donations for our beneficiaries. Thanks for all you do for SAA!
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – TAMPA
Charlie Houchin, Eric Wunderlich, Steve Lindquist
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – GREENWICH-STAMFORD
Charlie Houchin, Cristina Teuscher and Craig Beardsley at SAA – Greenwich-Stamford
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – BOSTON
Doug Gjertsen, Erik Vendt, Eric Wunderlich, Alex Meyer, Craig Beardsley and Janel Jorgensen McArdle
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – CHARLESTON-KIAWAH
Kristy Kowal
Kristy Kowal
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – CHICAGO
Charlie Houchin and Sebastian Rousseau
SAA – LONG ISLAND SOUND (POOL SWIM)
Cristina Teuscher and Long Island Sound swimmers
SAA – SOUND TO COVE
Olympians Craig Beardsley and Steve Lundquist with the SAA – Nassau Suffolk team
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – ST. LOUIS
Ryan Berube, Ryan Held and Mark Gangloff
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – DENVER
Missy Franklin, Elizabeth Beisel, George DiCarlo, Susan Bartholomew-Williams, Susan von der Lippe, Lindsay Benko Mintenko, Mike Mintenko, Andrew Gemmell, Heather Petri, Kara Lynn Joyce, Brickelle Bro, Mara Abbott, Ashley Whitney, Katie Huff and Doug Gjertsen
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – RHODE ISLAND
Elizabeth Beisel, Craig Beardsley, Janel Jorgensen McArdle and Clara Walker
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – SEATTLE
Mary Wayte Bradburne with some Kids Splash swimmers
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – SAN FRANCISCO
Heather Petri, Dana Kirk, Ericka Lorenz, Susan Heon-Preston, Cathy Carr West, Staciana Stitts Winfield, Mike Bruner, Jessica Steffens, Annika Dries, Mark Henderson, Rada Owen, Mike Kiedel, Brikelle Bro, and Christine Magnuson
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – CHARLOTTE
Charlie Houchin, Lauren Perdue, Hannah Aspden, Marko Blazevski, Tharon Drake and Karlee Bispo
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – ATLANTA
Missy Franklin, Geoff Gaberino, Doug Gjertsen, Bobby Hackett, McClain Hermes, Katie Hoff, Kara Lynn Joyce, Kristy Kowal, Steve Lundquist, Maritza Correia McClendon, Megan Neyer, Amanda Weir, Ashley Whitney, Peter Wright, Nei-Kuan Chia, Ramon Valle, Hali Flickinger and Shannon Vreeland.
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – DALLAS
Dana Vollmer, Ryan Berube, Charlie Houchin and Jim Montgomery
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – SMAC OUT CANCER POOL SWIM
Susan Heon-Preston, Craig Beardsley and Mike Bruner
We appreciate the support of Olympians who have donated their time to support the SAA cause in 2017. These Olympians have attended our swims and special events generating awareness and raising donations for our beneficiaries. Thanks for all you do for SAA!
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – SMAC OUT CANCER POOL SWIM
Olympian attendees included Mike Bruner, Susan Heon-Preston, Mark Preston, Ellen Estes, Emily Silver, Dana Kirk, Craig Beardsley
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – BOSTON
Janel Jorgensen McArdle, Heather Petri and Kristy Kowal participate in beneficiary visit
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – MUDPUPPIES MEMORIAL POOL SWIM
Ryan Held joined the popular pool swim at Triangle Aquatic Center
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – KIAWAH ISLAND
Carlton Bruner, Ashley Whitney & Steve Lundquist pose with a youth swimmer
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – CHICAGO
Kendra Berner Yoch, Katherine Starr, Jilen Siroky Bouwer and Tom Beeri
SAA – LONG ISLAND SOUND (NYAC TRAVERS ISLAND POOL SWIM)
Kim Vandenberg gives a swim clinic
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – NANTUCKET
Samantha Arsenault Livingstone with junior WaveMakers
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – ST. LOUIS
Kara Lynn Joyce with a fan
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – RHODE ISLAND
Craig Beardsley, Rhode Islander Elizabeth Beisel, Alex Meyer, and Clara Walker
Ricky Berens and family all participated in the inaugural event
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – ATLANTA
Craig Beardsley, Carlton Bruner, Nei-Kuan Chia, Missy Franklin, Geoff Gaberino, Doug Gjertsen, Joe Hudepohl, Kristy Kowal, Steve Lundquist, Megan Neyer, Heather Petri, Daniel Watters, Amanda Weir, Eric Wunderlich and Ashley Whitney all joined the SAA – Atlanta fun in 2017
SWIM ACROSS AMERICA – DALLAS
Ryan Berube and our SAA – Dallas mascot sporting gold
Swim Across America 