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“3, 2, 1!” And just like that, the 3 mile swimmers were in the water.
Early Saturday morning, swimmers made waves against cancer.
“It feels incredible. The money that we raise today is going to saving lives today,” said Michelle Graham, Co-Chair of the Swim Across America Greenwich-Stamford Swim
A record number of swimmers came out to Swim Across America’s 9th Annual Greenwich-Stamford Swim benefiting the Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy. Over 250 swimmers chose the open water distance of either 1/2 mile, 1.5 miles or 3-miles to participate in.Swim Across America has been raising money and awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment since 1987.
“Our community has really come out over the years and supported us and rallied with us,”said Graham.”The outpouring of support is incredible, especially with young people. It is surprising how many people we have who want to swim. We have a 9 year old swimming this year all the way up to somebody in their 70s. I think we even have an 80-year-old swimming today. That is really great,” said Lorrie Lorenz, Co-Chair of the Swim Across America Greenwich-Stamford Swim
The Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy, the nation’s only foundation dedicated exclusively to funding cancer gene therapy research.
And for many of the swimmers and their families, the event hits close to home.
“My daughter at 16 was diagnosed with cancer and is now a survivor. My co-chairs daughter at 17 was diagnosed with cancer. You don’t think this is going to effect you and then all of a sudden it is there in your life,” said Graham.
“My daughter is a cancer survivor herself and actually swam in this event before she had cancer,” said Lorenz.
“I was always a swimmer and I had heard about the event so I thought it would be a good way to spend the morning, raise money and didn’t think much about it,”said Greenwich High School alumni Brooke Lorenz, a cancer survivor and leader of Team Chemhoes. “Then a couple of days after my high school graduation, I was diagnosed with lymphoma.”I had all this support and everyone asking me how can I help or what can I do. So I went back to those people and said this is how you can help. Get involved with this event, join the team that I have made, donate, volunteer, or just be there to cheer us on. This is something that is close to my heart and I wanted to pay it forward for all the people who raised money and found a cure for me,” said Brooke.
For more information about Swim Across America, visit www.swimacrossamerica.org.
