Swim Across America Motor City Mile Set to Take Place on July 8th

Chad Steed is jumping into the Detroit River off the shores of Belle Isle on Friday, July 8, to swim for the 4th annual Swim Across America Motor City Mile open water swim. Chad, who lives in Huntington Woods, Michigan, has been a devoted swimmer his whole life – he is also a cancer survivor. Chad was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the age of 29. His first question to his oncologist was, “can I still swim?” Swimming meant so much to Chad that he never imagined cancer would be something that would sideline him from the water, especially at such a young age.

“I knew swimming would become a very important part of my treatment and recovery for several reasons. Swimming allowed me moments to escape the worry, fear, and frustration during my entire cancer experience. It also let me maintain a level of normalcy; and, just like swimming, I set goals as I moved through the treatment process.”

Chad's cancer was caught early and today he is cancer-free. He was treated at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Swim Across America Motor City Mile’s beneficiary. Funds raised by Swim Across America Motor City Mile support roughly 500 researchers at the Rogel Cancer Center who are working to prevent cancer, improve outcomes for those diagnosed, and improve the quality of life for cancer patients and survivors. Swim Across America Motor City Mile has specifically raised over $100,000 for the Rogel Cancer Center since its first swim four years ago in 2018.

“Through my own experience, I understand how challenging this disease is and how important it is that we support research to end cancer on all fronts. The funds raised are making an amazing real-time difference in research and supporting those currently in treatment as well as those who may deal with cancer in the future. As a 21-year cancer survivor, I am proud and honored to be part of Swim Across America and to do all I can to support their efforts.”

Founded in 1987 and celebrating 35 years of #makingwaves to #fightcancer this year, Swim Across America is a national nonprofit organization that holds 24 open water swims across the country, from Boston to under the Golden Gate Bridge. The organization has an interesting history as it started with a sunken boat in Long Island Sound at its first-ever open water swim and has turned its passion for swimming and fighting cancer into $100 million that supports crucial cancer research throughout the country.

Swim Across America funding has contributed to four FDA approved life-saving immunotherapy treatments: Yervoy, Opdivo, Tecentriq and Keytruda, and supports research with more than 60 scientific grants funded each year. Just this month, very exciting news about a clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering was published in The New England Journal of Medicine that 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. The clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering was funded by early-stage grant funding from Swim Across America.

More than 60 scientific grants are funded each year by Swim Across America and there are ten dedicated 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 at Dallas, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York, Nantucket Cottage Hospital, Palliative and Supportive Care of Nantucket, Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Lounge at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland and San Francisco and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. More than 120 Olympians support Swim Across America, including Michael Phelps, Craig Beardsley (who is being inducted into the International Swimmer’s Hall of Fame this fall), Donna De Varona, Rowdy Gaines, Janel Jorgensen McArdle, Bobby Hackett, Ryan Lochte, Glenn Mills and many more.

In honor of Swim Across America’s 35th anniversary, the organization is showcasing “35 Stories of Impact” throughout its decades with a special website at swimacrossamerica.org/35. Chad Steed is one of the “35 Stories of Impact” profiled.

To learn more about Swim Across America Motor City Mile or to register to swim, volunteer or donate for the July 8th open water swim, visit swimacrossamerica.org/detroit.

About Swim Across America
Swim Across America, Inc. (SAA) is dedicated to raising money and awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment through swimming-related events. With the help of hundreds of volunteers nationwide and past and current Olympians, Swim Across America is helping find a cure for cancer through athleticism, community outreach and direct service. To learn more visit swimacrossamerica.org/detroit or follow on Facebook or Instagram @SAAmotorcitymile or email Amy Wheatley at amyk@swimacrossamerica.org.