Swim Across America’s Long Island Sound Chapter (SAA-LIS) is once again making waves this summer in the fight against cancer.

 

SAA-LIS, which last year raised more than $1 million for cutting-edge cancer research, prevention and treatment through swimming events, will offer eight opportunities to swim and volunteer in Westchester this season, says Chapter President Tony Sibio. The non-profit will have its first swim at the New York Athletic Club in Pelham on July 13. The other seven events are scheduled between then and August 4.

 

“We started SAA-LIS more than a quarter century ago with just a few swimmers and the determination to make a difference in the lives of those fighting cancer,” says  Sibio. “Today we have close to 1,000 swimmers, approximately 300 volunteers and over 4,000 individual and corporate donors, who are committed to helping eradicate all forms of cancer.”

 

Proceeds from the swims will support immunotherapy research at the Swim Across America Laboratory at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, pediatric oncology research at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian and patient services with Westchester-based Cancer Support Team.

 

The summer program will encompass seven pool swims (with the option of half-mile and one-mile efforts) plus an open-water swim course on Long Island Sound that will offer participants the option of swimming 2K, 5K or 10K.  The open-water swim, which starts at Larchmont Yacht Club and ends at Larchmont Shore Club, has been recognized by the World Open Water Swimming Association as one of America's Top 100 Open Water Swims.

 

The full roster of participating locations, dates and times is as follows:

 

-- NYAC Travers Island, Pelham, July 13 -- 6:00 p.m. to 9 p.m. (night swim and BBQ to follow)

 

-- Westchester Country Club, Rye, July 14 -- 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

 

-- Orienta Beach Club, Mamaroneck, July 21 -- 6:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

 

-- Chappaqua Swim & Tennis Club, Chappaqua,  July 22 -- 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

 

-- Lakeside Field Club, North Salem,  July 22 -- 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (night swim)

 

-- Coveleigh Club, Rye,  July 23 -- 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (members only)

 

-- Long Island Sound Open Water, Larchmont, July 28 -- 6 a.m. to 12:00 p.m

 

-- Lake Isle Country Club, Eastchester,  August 4 -- 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

 

Those interested in participating in 2018 Swim Across America-LIS events can register to swim, kayak, volunteer to help, or sponsor a swimmer at www.swimacrossamerica.org/long_island.

 

Donations can be sent to SAA-Long Island Sound, P.O. Box 217, Larchmont, NY 10538.

 

“We are now in our 26th year and have come a long way in helping to find a cure for cancer, but there is still much work to be done,” adds  Sibio. “We look forward to another great swim season, knowing that with every swimmer’s stroke we are helping those afflicted with the disease and moving closer to our ultimate goal of ridding the world of cancer.”

 

Swim Across America, Inc. was founded in 1987 and has raised over $70 million for cancer research and prevention programs at the country’s finest hospitals and managed-care facilities.  Since Swim Across America’s inception, it has grown from having a single event in Nantucket, MA, to 15 open water benefit swims across the country and 100 annual pool swims.

 

The Long Island Sound chapter was started in 1992 and has grown to be the largest in the organization, having raised over $17 million since its inception and over $1 million in 2017 alone.

 

For more information about Swim Across America Long Island Chapter,  call 914-769-8411 or visit www.swimacrossamerica.org/long_island.