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Swimmers and Volunteers Register for
9th Annual Swim Across America Greenwich-Stamford Swim
Cancer-Fighting Swim Scheduled for June 27,
2015;
Greenwich Moms of Cancer Survivors Chair the Event
STAMFORD,
Conn., 2015 – It’s time to make waves in the fight against
cancer and pledge support as a swimmer or volunteer at the
ninth annual Greenwich-Stamford Swim Across America event.
The swim will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2015, on
the Stamford-Greenwich shores of the Alliance for Cancer
Gene Therapy (ACGT), the beneficiary of the swim and the
nation’s only foundation dedicated exclusively to funding
cancer gene therapy research. Registration is required and
can be completed online at
swimacrossamerica.org. For additional information call
203-570-9195.
Swim Across America has raised $60 million in the fight
against cancer with swims throughout the United States since
its founding in 1987. In Connecticut, the annual Swim Across
America event is an open water swim with ½-mile, 1.5-mile
and 3-mile options. Proceeds of the fundraising efforts go
directly to cancer research grants administered by ACGT,
which dedicates 100 percent of all funds raised. Chairs for
this year’s Swim are Michele Graham and Lorrie Lorenz, both
mothers of teenage cancer survivors. Honorary co-chairs are
Donna DeVarona and John Pinto and John and Cindy Sites.
“Co-chairing the Swim Across America Greenwich-Stamford Swim
was a natural fit for me,” said Lorrie Lorenz, Swim Across
America co-chair. “My family has been involved with Swim
Across America as both volunteers and swimmers for six
years. After my daughter Brooke was diagnosed with Lymphoma
as a senior in high school four years ago, and after two
surgeries and many grueling rounds of chemotherapy, I’m
happy to report that she is now cancer-free and back in the
water raising money for cancer research.”
“Our introduction as a volunteer for Swim Across America
came through our daughter Nicole, who at age 16, was
diagnosed with ALL leukemia in 2012,” noted Michele Graham,
Swim Across America co-chair. “After Nicole recovered from
critical complications – including septic shock and strokes
on both sides of her brain - she was the kickoff speaker for
the Swim Across America event in 2013; in 2014 she was
co-captain of the team Chemosabi as well as an intern
for the Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy. Now today, after
recently completing chemotherapy, she is once again
dedicating her time to this inspiring event.”
While Swim Across America is a national organization and
offers dozens of swims from Boston Harbor to under the
Golden Gate Bridge, its roots are firmly anchored in
Connecticut and along the shores of Long Island Sound.
Darien, Connecticut, resident Matt Vossler and his lifelong
friend and college roommate Jeff Keith founded Swim Across
America. Janel Jorgensen McArdle, president of Swim Across
America and the 1988 Olympic silver medalist and Pan
American gold medalist, grew up in Ridgefield, Connecticut,
and spent her summers swimming in Long Island Sound.
The 2015 Greenwich-Stamford Swim will unite recreational
swimmers, competitive swimmers, Master swimmers, Olympians,
kayakers, boaters and hundreds of volunteers all committed
to pursuing a cure for this devastating disease.
“When my daughter was undergoing chemotherapy and struggled
to recover from the devastating complications, I was
overwhelmed by how much the community rallied to our side
and supported us,” says Michele Graham. “Co-chairing Swim
Across America is our chance to give back and support
everyone whose life is touched by cancer. No one’s cancer is
easy. Nicole and Brooke are fortunate. They are cancer
survivors. Our goal is to raise funds for cancer treatment
and prevention research so that everyone can be a survivor.”
In this one-year alone, 1,334,000 cases of cancer will be
diagnosed in the US. This staggering statistic offers
compelling proof of the need to continue devising new
approaches to research and treatment. There are many ways to
"Make Waves to Fight Cancer" with Swim Across America.
Whether it is through swimming, volunteering, giving or
cheering on loved ones, Swim Across America welcomes anyone
and everyone who wants to be a part of the fight against
cancer.
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
www.swimacrossamerica.org/greenwich
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