Swim Across America Holds 8 Pool Swims to Make Waves to Fight Cancer

Swim Across America - Long Island Sound is holding its 32nd annual open water swim on Saturday, July 27, 2024, with more than 800 swimmers and volunteers all making waves to fight cancer. For those swimmers who prefer to make their waves in a pool instead of Long Island Sound, the nonprofit organization is also holding eight (8) pool swims during the months of July and August throughout Westchester County. Swimmers interested in participating in a Swim Across America pool swim can register at swimacrossamerica.org/longislandsound and click on “pool swims” to select a swim.

The Swim Across America - Long Island Sound pool swims have a focus on supporting pediatric cancer research and treatments. Swim Across America - Long Island Sound’s special ‘Kids for Kids’ program encourages even the youngest swimmers to dive into pool swims throughout Westchester County and make waves to fight cancer. With eight participating Westchester County swim clubs participating, there is an opportunity for all ages to make waves to fight cancer.

“Only 4% of National Cancer Institute funding nationally goes to pediatric cancers and it is an area that needs support for further treatments and innovation,” said Jean Fufidio, event director for Swim Across America - Long Island Sound. “We are very proud that our Swim Across America - Long Island Sound open water swim and pool swims have contributed more than $25 million to fund crucial cancer research in the past 32 years.”

Proceeds from Swim Across America - Long Island Sound pool swims and the open water event support cancer research at the swim’s local New York area beneficiaries Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, Cancer Support Team and Weill Cornell Medicine.

“Pool swims are an important part of our efforts to make waves to fight cancer,” noted Fufidio. “While our open water swim on July 27 is one of the largest open water swims in the nation, the eight pool swims that support our cause to make waves to fight cancer also attract hundreds of additional swimmers! New this year is a 1/2-mile pool swim on July 27, the morning of our open water swim, at the Larchmont Shore Club, which is going to add to the excitement and more participation that morning with even more swimmers — all supporting our theme this year: aim high, be bold, make waves.”

The scheduled Swim Across America pool swims in the New York area include:

July 12: New York Athletic Club - Travers Island, 6:00 - 8:30 p.m
July 13: Westchester County Club, 7:00 - 9:30 a.m.
July 20: Orienta Beach Club Pool Swim, 6:15 - 9:30 a.m.
July 21: Chappaqua Swim & Tennis Club, 8:00 - 11:00 a.m.
July 24: Coveleigh Club Pool Swim, 3:00 - 5:30 p.m.
July 25: Scarsdale Golf Club, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
July 27: Larchmont Shore Club 1/2-Mile Pool Swim, 8:00 - 9:30 a.m.
August 3: Lake Isle Club Pool Swim, 7:00 - 9:30 a.m.

Individual swimmers as well as teams are encouraged to register for the Swim Across America - Long Island Sound Pool Swims. One team, “Swimming for Gigi,” that is participating in the July 20th Orienta Beach Club Pool Swim, is swimming in memory of Genevieve ‘Gigi’ Favulkes, age 9, of Larchmont, New York, who sadly passed away from cancer way too soon, following a year of bravery, spirit, strength and unceasing caring for others despite her burden.

“Even if you did not know Gigi, you knew of her, as the community preserved her memory by displaying purple (her favorite color) ribbons on homes, telephone poles and trees throughout our village of Larchmont,” noted team captain Sylvia Lavietes. “What began as a remembrance on Kilmer Road, where she lived with her parents Rob and Courtney, sister, Camille, and brother, Charlie, expanded to the greater community and continues through our swimming. Gigi was not afforded the opportunity to continue to disperse her magic for the decades we wish she could have given to the world. Swimming in her honor feels like an endeavor that she would appreciate. She was physically active and a ‘giver.’ We swim with love, determination and hope that we can make a difference.”

Swim Across America is a national organization and offers open water and pool swims in 24 communities, from Boston Harbor to under the Golden Gate Bridge, but its roots are firmly anchored along the shores of Long Island Sound, and in fact, the Swim Across America - Long Island Sound swim is one of the oldest in the country, celebrating 32 years of making waves to fight cancer in 2024. It is also the largest and has raised the most out of any swim.

Nationally, Swim Across America has raised more than $100 million in the fight against cancer. More than 150 Olympians support Swim Across America, including Kate Douglass, Michael Phelps, Craig Beardsley, Elizabeth Beisel, Missy Franklin, Ryan Held, Gretchen Walsh, Donna de Varona, Rowdy Gaines, Janel Jorgensen McArdle, Bobby Hackett, Ryan Lochte, Glenn Mills, Cristina Teuscher and many more.

Swim Across America’s funding of clinical trials on a national level - and specifically with the funds raised by the Long Island Sound swim - has helped contribute to four FDA approved life-saving immunotherapy cancer treatments: Yervoy, Opdivo, Tecentriq and Keytruda. Recently, the 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. The clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering was funded by early-stage grant funding from Swim Across America - Long Island Sound.

To learn more about Swim Across America - Long Island Sound and its pool swims and to register to swim, volunteer or donate, visit swimacrossamerica.org/longislandsound.

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 or follow on Facebook, X or Instagram @saaswim or email Jean Fufidio at jean@swimacrossamerica.org.