Thirty Years Strong, Swim Across America Long Island Sound Makes More Than Waves to Fight Cancer…It Makes a Tsunami
For 30 years, Swim Across America’s Long Island Sound Chapter (SAA-LIS) has been making waves to fight cancer through its Westchester swimming events. After three decades and hundreds of swims involving thousands of participants, the organization is looking to create a veritable fundraising tsunami to support local cutting-edge cancer research, prevention and treatment.
This summer participants will have eight opportunities to swim and volunteer in SAA-LIS events in Westchester. The open-water signature swim, which hosts swimmers from throughout Westchester County, the Hudson Valley and beyond, will take place on July 30 in Larchmont’s Long Island Sound, with pool swims scheduled between July 9 and August 6.
“Thirty years ago, 17 swimmers at the Larchmont Yacht Club completed a four-mile swim, raising $15K for cancer research, and the Swim Across America-Long Island Chapter was born,” says SAA-LIS Executive Director Tony Sibio. “Since that time, our family of swimmers, volunteers and donors has grown exponentially, and we have made incredible inroads in our fight to beat cancer. Yet, we still have a way to go, and we won’t stop until cancer is eradicated forever.”
Proceeds from the swims will support the Swim Across America research lab, Dr. Luis Diaz and the MSK Kids Department of Pediatrics at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; pediatric oncology research at Morgan Stanley Columbia University Medical Center; and patient services with Cancer Support Team.
The summer program will encompass seven pool swims (with the option of half-mile and one-mile efforts) plus an open-water swim course on Long Island Sound that will offer participants the option of swimming 2K, 5K or 10K. The open-water swim, which starts at Larchmont Yacht Club and ends at Larchmont Shore Club, has been recognized by the World Open Water Swimming Association as one of America’s Top 100 Open Water Swims.
The full roster of participating locations, dates and times is as follows:
• Westchester Country Club
July 9 – 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• NYAC Travers Island, Pelham
July 14 — 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Chappaqua Swim & Tennis Club,
Chappaqua
July 17 – 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Coveleigh Club, Rye
July 20 — 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (members only)
• Orienta Beach Club, Mamaroneck
July 23 — 6:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• Scarsdale Golf Club, Scarsdale
July 26 – 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Long Island Sound Open Water,
Larchmont
July 30 — 6 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
• Lake Isle Country Club, Eastchester
August 6 – 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Those interested in participating in 2022 Swim Across America-LIS events can register to swim, kayak, sponsor a swimmer or volunteer to help at www.swimacrossamerica.com/Long_Island. Donations can be sent to SAA-Long Island Sound, P.O. Box 217, Larchmont, NY 10538.
Those who prefer not to swim also have an opportunity to contribute to the chapter’s fundraiser. SAA My Way is a virtual offering where participants decide their activity and timeline. It can be anything from jogging to golfing, playing tennis to basketball. All SAA My Way participants are encouraged to set a minimum fundraising goal of $250.
All donations raised for My Way will support the SAA-LIS event.
“The first year of our swim we never imagined that we would become the largest Swim Across America chapter or that we would be able to accomplish so much as a result of the commitment and generosity of everyone involved in the SAA community,” says Sibio. “Of course, we long for the day when our fundraising swims are no longer necessary. Until that time, we will continue to makes waves – maybe even a tsunami – in our fight against cancer.”
Swim Across America, Inc. was founded in 1987 and has raised over $100 million for cancer research and prevention programs at the country’s finest hospitals and managed-care facilities. Since Swim Across America’s inception, it has grown from having a single event in Nantucket, MA, to 22 open water benefit swims across the country.
The Long Island Sound chapter was started in 1992 and has grown to be the largest in the organization, having raised over $21 million since its inception.
For more information about Swim Across America Long Island Chapter, call 914-769-8411 or visit www.swimacrossamerica.org/long_island.