Read or watch local stories featuring the Swim Across America-Long Island Sound community to learn about their impact. Learn more about the event and beneficiaries, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Columbia University Cancer Center, Cancer Support Team, and Weill Cornell Medical Center, at swimacrossamerica.org/long_island.
From a young age, Kelly Lennon was always driven to make an impact in her community. In high school, Kelly swam with her school team and joined Swim Across America – Nassau/Suffolk. Nearly a decade later, Kelly returned to Swim Across America as a coach and helped raise more than $40,000.
“In December 2016, I was honored for my fundraising efforts with a Proclamation from the Town of Huntington, New York, by Legislator Susan Berland,” shared Kelly. “After I graduated high school, I knew I’d come back to Swim Across America because it was that important to me.”
Kelly may have physically “left” for college, but her passion for Swim Across America still tugged at her heart. It wasn’t until eight years later that Kelly found her way back to Swim Across America to rejoin the fight to cure cancer.
“I graduated from college and took a job at the Huntington YMCA coaching an age group team called the Bluefish,” shared Kelly. “I couldn’t wait to bring my joy for SAA to this new bunch of kids in our community.”
With the help of the SAA National and SAA-Nassau/Suffolk local committee, Kelly started the Huntington Y Bluefish SAA Pool Swim. Together, the team quickly exceeded their original $10,000 goal and raised over $40,000 for their beneficiaries: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the Feinstein Institute at Northwell Health, MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital, and SHARE Cancer Support.
“What a full circle moment for me! Supporting this organization as an adult, with my team of young swimmers, brought back so many memories,” said Kelly.
The fight to find a cure never changed, but Kelly’s personal growth over eight years fed her passion and fueled her fire to fight cancer.
“I support Swim Across America because cancer has deeply affected my family. Some of my loved ones have survived, while others have, sadly, passed away,” shared Kelly.
“I swim in memory of those we’ve lost and in support of those still fighting. This cause is personal to me—every stroke is a tribute to their strength, courage, and the hope that, through continued research, we can find better treatments and ultimately a cure. That’s what motivates me to raise funds and be part of this incredible community.”
Swim Across America grants have had incredible success, particularly at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, one of the SAA-Nassau/Suffolk beneficiaries. The community is a grant funder of MSK’s landmark clinical trial that achieved a 100% success rate treating advanced rectal cancer patients with dostarlimab; as well as a funder of the most recent Phase II clinical trial at MSK just published in The New England Journal of Medicine that showed an 80% success rate in treating patients with several types of MMRd cancers who were treated with immunotherapy and did not require surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy after six months of treatment with immunotherapy alone. SAA awarded the grants for the early-stage research and continues to award grants for the ongoing clinical trial.
Seeing the impact SAA has on cancer research is what drives Kelly to continue to support the mission.
“Swim Across America makes a real impact by funding innovative cancer research and clinical trials that give patients hope and save lives,” said Kelly.
“It’s important to me and my family because it turns grief into action and brings people together to fight for a future without cancer.”
If you are moved to support Kelly and Huntington Y Bluefish, click here.
1-Mile Swim and 100M Dolphin Dash Take Place December 7 at Daytona International Speedway
CLASH Endurance® and Swim Across America are thrilled to announce a new charity swim in Lake Lloyd, located in the infield of the iconic Daytona International Speedway® on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. Participants of all ages will have the opportunity to swim alongside notable Olympians in an inspirational one-mile swim or a 100-meter Dolphin Dash with fundraising for critical cancer research as their top priority. Funds raised will support Swim Across America’s breakthrough pediatric cancer grants with its beneficiaries and CLASH Endurance’s philanthropic partner The NASCAR Foundation.
Swim Across America, founded in 1987, hosts 24 annual open-water swims from Nantucket to under the Golden Gate Bridge, and hundreds and pool swims each year that fund cancer research and patient programs, raising more than $100M to date. Swim Across America has funded transformative trials that led to the FDA-approved immunotherapy cancer medications Keytruda, Opdivo, Yervoy and Tecentriq. The organization has also supported Memorial Sloan Kettering’s landmark trials including the recent Phase II clinical trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine showing an 80% success rate treating MMRd cancers with immunotherapy alone. Swim Across America also recently awarded the first-of-their-kind gene editing innovation grants to Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to advance safer, more effective targeted treatments.
“Swim Across America, CLASH Endurance and The NASCAR Foundation joining together makes so much sense as The NASCAR Foundation helps so many kids who are battling cancer,” commented Rob Butcher, CEO of Swim Across America. “To have a Swim Across America charity event in Daytona on the CLASH Endurance Family Weekend means we will make even bigger waves together in the fight against cancer.”
The NASCAR Foundation is a leading charity that works to improve the lives of children who need it most in NASCAR racing communities through the Speediatrics Children’s Fund and the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. Serving as a designated 4-Star Charity by Charity Navigator for its strong financial health and ongoing accountability and transparency, it has contributed more than $50 Million to impact the lives of more than 1.7 million children nationwide since 2006.
“We are excited to be a part of the new Swim Across America swim during the CLASH Endurance weekend at Daytona International Speedway. We truly appreciate the many years of support from our friends at CLASH, and it is a privilege to team up again to help improve the health and well-being of kids across the country and in our race communities,” said Nichole Krieger, vice president and executive director of The NASCAR Foundation.
On December 7, when hundreds of swimmers and volunteers dive into Lake Lloyd, one-mile swimmers will be required to raise at least $400 by event day; swimmers under 18 will raise a minimum of $200; Dolphin Dash participants can register for $50 and have no fundraising minimum. To register as a swimmer or a volunteer, visit swimacrossamerica.org/daytona.
CLASH Endurance CEO Bill Christy says, “We are proud to collaborate with Swim Across America which continues to make a lasting impact in the cancer community. This is a cause that has touched all our lives, and we are honored to further support the fight at one of our flagship event weekends.”
Each December when much of the country battles snow, more than 3,000 participants ranging in age from four to 80+ will take on the speedway through a variety of events including a 5K, kids’ triathlon, duathlon, aquabike, triathlons, Test Track and Redline Relay. CLASH Endurance strives to provide a festival-style weekend, which in addition to free activities for spectators and athletes alike, include a wellness expo, food trucks, beer/wine garden and much more. The weekend kicks off with a festive “Jingle Jog 5K” on Friday evening with a start and finish at ONEDaytona. Participants, including those in jogging strollers, will experience Florida’s “Magic of Lights” holiday display taking them under the iconic grandstands of the speedway. The Swim Across America 1-mile swim and Dolphin Dash will help cap-off the weekend on Sunday, December 7.
“We have swum in some incredible venues and Daytona International Speedway is certainly one of the most iconic,” noted Olympic swimmer and Swim Across America Ambassador Rowdy Gaines. “To have a Swim Across America charity swim in Daytona is going to be extra special – I will definitely be there!”
CLASH Endurance® is an innovative endurance event company led by athletes with a passion to provide exceptional race experiences at iconic speedways across the U.S. CLASH embraces inclusion and welcomes athletes of all ages and abilities, from elite professionals to first-time participants. The popular CLASH Endurance DAYTONA event is held at the Daytona International Speedway®, home of ‘The Great American Race”- the Daytona 500, and has been featured on NBC and Fox Sports 1/2. Each February, the Daytona Beach Half Marathon & 5K takes athletes on a scenic tour of Daytona and its numerous landmarks and attractions. In addition, CLASH Endurance Miami in March continues to draw a decorated pro field, collegiate athletes from dozens of prestigious universities and weekend warriors for a challenging course at the historic Homestead-Miami Speedway®. Follow The NASCAR Foundation on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/NASCARFoundation or on X at @NASCAR_FDN. For more information visitclashendurance.com.
Swim Across America hosts open water and pool swims in numerous communities nationwide, from Nantucket to under San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. More than 150 Olympians swim with the organization, including Michael Phelps, Kate Douglass, and Missy Franklin. The organization supports more than 60 cancer research projects annually and has ten named Swim Across America Labs at major institutions nationwide. To learn more, visit swimacrossamerica.org or follow on social media @SwimAcrossAmerica on Facebook and @SAASwim on Instagram.
Wilcox and Buttigieg Bring Biotech, Science, Financial, Hospitality and Real Estate Expertise to Help Grow Swim Across America’s Impact and Mission
Harry Wilcox and Tim Buttigieg have been appointed to the Swim Across America board of directors.
Swim Across America, a national nonprofit dedicated to funding cancer research and patient programs through funds raised with charity swims, is pleased to announce the appointment of two distinguished leaders to its board of directors: Harry Wilcox, a life sciences entrepreneur, and Tim Buttigieg, a hospitality and real estate executive. Their extensive backgrounds in science, business, finance and community engagement will help advance Swim Across America’s mission and expand its impact.
Wilcox, based in Boston, has spent more than 30 years in executive leadership roles in the biotech, life sciences and financial sectors. His career includes positions with Exact Sciences, Cambridge NeuroScience, Charles River Ventures, BG Medicine, and YourBio Health Inc. Most recently, he served as general partner with Flagship Pioneering, a $14 billion life sciences company creation firm, where he oversaw financial operations and investments in biotechnology, health, and sustainability companies, including Seahorse Bioscience, Indigo Agriculture, and Novomer.
“My college roommate Jim Meehan and my wife, Patricia Hambrick, are both Swim Across America participants who introduced me to the organization,” Wilcox said. “I admire the approach Swim Across America takes in awarding grants that drive innovation in cancer research and detection. At this stage in my life, I’m excited to offer my time, experience, and resources to make a meaningful impact on the mission of helping innovate new treatments for cancer. I am delighted to join the board and work closely with leadership in accomplishing this goal.”
Buttigieg, based in New York City, has an extensive background in hospitality and real estate. His career includes roles with Brookfield Asset Management and previously PwC. Additionally, he chairs Swim Across America’s associate board, a group of emerging leaders dedicated to supporting the organization’s mission. Buttigieg has been involved with Swim Across America for more than a decade, starting as a participant and fundraiser in his teenage years.
“The impact of Swim Across America’s grants has benefited individuals I personally know,” Buttigieg said. “As my professional career has grown, I’ve wanted to give back more to this community, and leading the associate board has been an honor. I look forward to continuing my contributions as a member of the board of directors.” Swim Across America CEO Rob Butcher welcomed both new board members, highlighting their expertise and dedication to the cause. “Harry has been a committed volunteer and supporter of Swim Across America, and his entrepreneur energy and relationships will help us make a bigger impact,” Butcher said. “Tim’s deep understanding of hospitality and customer experience aligns with our mission of offering best-in-class charity programs. His leadership of the associate board has brought in a new generation, and we are thrilled to have him join the board of directors.”
Founded in 1987, Swim Across America has raised more than $100 million to fight cancer. In its 37 years of making waves, thousands of swimmers and Olympians have swum the circumference of the earth three times uniting a movement to fight cancer that has created a groundswell of support spanning all generations. Today, more than 24 communities hold charity swims each year, which support innovative cancer research, detection and patient programs.
Swim Across America grants helped support the research and clinical trials for FDA approved immunotherapy medicines: Keytruda, Opdivo, Yervoy, and Tencentriq. Swim Across America is also a grant funder of the successful clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering that was published in The New England Journal of Medicine and showed a 100 percent success rate in treating patients in a phase 2 clinical trial for advanced rectal cancer with dostarlimab, an immunotherapy treatment produced by GlaxoSmithKline. Swim Across America awards grant to more than 60 projects each year and there are ten named Swim Across America Labs at major institutions including: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, John Hopkins Medicine Baltimore, Rush University Medical Center Chicago, Baylor Scott & White Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center in Dallas, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York, Infusion Center at Nantucket Cottage Hospital, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland and San Francisco, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, The Swim Across America Pediatric Research Lab at Columbia University Medical Center New York, and at Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine.
To learn more about Swim Across America or to register for a community charity swim, you can visit swimacrossamerica.org.
Swim Across America is making fundraising easier through social media!
You can now link your Swim Across America fundraising page directly with Facebook. Once you register for your SAA charity swim, you can directly link your personal Swim Across America fundraising page to Facebook. You’ll be able to easily spread the word, collect donations and track your progress on Facebook. All donations through Facebook will be received by SAA and reflected in your fundraising thermometer!
How To Connect Your Fundraiser to Facebook:
1. Log in to your participant center.
2. Click on MY EVENTS in the top menu and choose the event(s) you’d like to connect.
3. In the middle of the page, click ‘Connect to Facebook Fundraisers.’
3. You will be redirected to Facebook to enter your login information.
4. Success! After you connect your Facebook profile, you can view your fundraiser. Click on “Go to Facebook Fundraiser.”
5. If you’d like, edit your fundraising information and details specific to your participation.
6. Promote your fundraiser by sharing a post on your timeline or inviting friends and family to your fundraising page.
This new Facebook integration allows you to spread the word of your fundraising efforts and reach more people quicker and easier then ever before. For questions about using fundraisers on Facebook scroll down to the bottom part of our FAQ page.
Swim Across America 