16TH
ANNUAL SWIM ACROSS AMERICA FAIRFIELD COUNTY OPEN
WATER SWIM IS SATURDAY, JUNE 25
Hundreds of Swimmers and Volunteers Make Waves
in the Fight Against Cancer
WHEN:
Saturday, June 25 (Best photo opportunities are from
7:30 - 9:45 a.m.)
6:30 a.m.:
3-mile swimmer registration
7:00 a.m.:
1.5-mile & 1/2-mile Swimmers check-in
7:30 a.m.:
Group Photo of all Swimmers
7:35 a.m.:
3-mile swimmers leave the beach
7:45 a.m.:
Welcome & National Anthem
7:55 a.m.:
Honored Speaker: Craig Lawrence, 16 year 3-mile
swimmer
8:20 a.m.:
1.5-mile swimmers start
8:45 a.m.:
1/2-mile swimmers start
9:45 a.m.:
Award Ceremony
10:00 a.m.:
Event Ends
WHERE: Swim Across America Fairfield
County
96 Cummings
Point Road
Stamford, CT
06902
(At border of
Old Greenwich and Stamford, just off the intersection of
Shore Road and Cummings Point. Follow the signs and
traffic helpers).
★ ★ ★ ★
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
16th Annual Swim Across America Fairfield County
Open Water Swim Scheduled for June 25, 2022
Swimmers, Boaters, Volunteers Make
Waves in the Fight Against Cancer
Swim Across America Fairfield
County is #makingwaves
to #fightcancer! Celebrating its 16th year in
Fairfield County, this year’s swim will be held Saturday,
June 25, 2022. The swim takes place in Stamford
in the waters of Long Island Sound at the
headquarters of the Swim’s local beneficiary, Alliance
for Cancer Gene Therapy. There are
three different swim distances available: a
half-mile, one-and-a-half mile and a three mile
swim. Boaters, kayakers, paddle boarders and land
volunteers participate in this inspirational event
with close to 300 swimmers and 100 volunteers. To
register as a swimmer or a volunteer, visit swimacrossamerica.org/fc.
Why does Swim Across America
Fairfield County swim to raise money in the fight
against cancer? Cancer sadly touches everyone —
whether it is a loved one or a friend, everyone
knows someone who has been impacted by cancer.
In 2022, it is estimated that 1.9
million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed and
there will be 609,360 cancer deaths in the U.S.
These staggering statistics offer compelling proof
of the need to continue devising new approaches to
treatment. Whether it is through swimming,
volunteering, donating or cheering on loved ones and
friends, Swim Across America Fairfield County
welcomes anyone and everyone who wants to be a part
of the fight against cancer.
Funds raised by Swim Across America
Fairfield County go directly to support scientific
cancer gene therapy grants administered by the
Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy. Swim Across
America Fairfield County has raised $4.7 million
over the past 15 years. This year’s Alliance for
Cancer Gene Therapy research fellow funded by Swim
Across America Fairfield County is Brian Brown,
PhD., professor of Genetics and Genomic Sciences
and associate director of the Precision Immunology
Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount
Sinai (New York, New York). Dr. Brown’s research is
working to identify the factors that control
immunity and tolerance, and translate these findings
into strategies that can be used to turn the immune
system against cancer or viruses, working toward a
potential breakthrough in the fight against solid
tumors. Despite some amazing successes, not all
patients respond to current immunotherapies and Dr.
Brown thinks he and his team have identified a cell
type responsible for poor responses.
“The Swim Across America Fairfield
County open water swim is such an inspiring event,”
said Cristy Fraser, co-chair of the open water swim.
“The gathering of so many families and so many
individuals who are honoring those who are special
to them is incredible — whether they are currently
battling it out, or survivors or have lost someone.
To hear the stories and to learn about those whom
cancer has touched and to experience that love is
just palpable. The feeling of wanting to make a
change and to do something for those who have
experienced cancer is huge.”
Cristy is the mother of Julian
Fraser, a 2014 Greenwich High School graduate and
All-American swimmer and water polo player, who
sadly passed away in 2017 after a short battle with
osteosarcoma. Team Julian, which is one of the
largest teams that participates at Swim Across
America Fairfield County, swims in Julian’s memory.
"I wasn't a swimmer when I first
joined Swim Across America Fairfield County, noted
Nancy Carr, co-chair. "But I quickly realized after
my friend Cristy Fraser's son was diagnosed with
cancer in 2016, that I could contribute in many
other ways. If you would like to participate but
swimming isn’t your thing, we have a lot of other
ways to get involved: you can be a land volunteer,
or boat, kayak or stand-up paddle board on June
25th, the day of the big swim. We also have pool
swims, a Sip & Shop event or you can donate and
support a swimmer or team. What began as a singular
summer event has turned into a year-long roster that
is supported by a community getting together to
fight a really serious disease with such fun and
such joy, it is something you really have to
experience to feel."
While 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, its roots are firmly
anchored along the shores of Connecticut. Darien,
Connecticut, resident Matt Vossler and his
lifelong friend and college roommate Jeff Keith founded
Swim Across America in 1987 swimming in Long Island
Sound. Throughout its 35 years, Swim Across America
has raised more than $100 million in the fight
against cancer. 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 (a Greenwich resident and honorary
Fairfield County co-chair), Rowdy Gaines, Janel
Jorgensen McArdle (who grew up in Ridgefield,
Connecticut), Bobby Hackett, Ryan Lochte, Glenn
Mills, Cristina Teuscher (who participates in the
Fairfield County event) and many more.
To learn more about Swim Across
America Fairfield County or to register to swim,
volunteer or donate, visit swimacrossamerica.org/fc.
About Swim Across America
Swim Across America, Inc.
(SAA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
raising money and awareness for cancer research,
prevention, and treatment through charity
swims. Since 1987, Swim Across America has raised
more than $100 million in the fight against cancer. Swim
Across America’s funding of clinical trials for
patients helped contribute to FDA-approved
life-saving immunotherapy cancer treatments: Yervoy,
Opdivo, Tecentriq, and Keytruda. More than
100,000 supporters and volunteers and 100 Olympians
participate in Swim Across America programs each
year. To learn more visit swimacrossamerica.org/fc or
follow on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @SAAFairfieldCo
or email nancycarr@swimacrossamerica.org.
|