Almost 18 months after losing Gina Mannix Wente to breast cancer, who was just 32-years-old and a beloved wife, mother, daughter and sister, more than 50 of her relatives and friends made a big splash with “Team Gina” at the 33rd annual Swim Across America – Long Island Sound open water swim on July 26, held on the shores of Long Island Sound in Larchmont. The team raised more than $33,255 charity swim to honor Gina, a beloved wife, mother, daughter and sister, who was only 32 when she died. For Team Gina, diving back into the water isn’t just a tribute – it’s a way to keep Gina’s competitive spirit and generosity alive – all while fueling cancer research that could help others battle this terrible disease.

Gina grew up swimming at the Larchmont Shore Club, captained undefeated squads at Ursuline and the College of the Holy Cross, and later coached for the New York Athletic Club. She balanced that passion with a finance career that took her to GE Capital and Ferrara Candy. In 2021 she married Dave Wente. Their daughter McKenzie arrived in 2022, and their son David Charles was delivered early at just 29 weeks on February 1, 2024, weeks after Gina’s sudden cancer diagnosis. Gina sadly passed away on February 26, 2024, just 3-1/2 weeks after welcoming her son.

“Last summer’s swim, was as you can imagine, raw and emotional for all of us after losing Gina so suddenly,” noted Gina’s mother, Mary Mannix. “However, being all together at the Swim and doing something that Gina loved was also very healing. We are coming back this year stronger and more energized than ever before. Every dollar we raise honors her love of the sport of swimming and helps fund the breakthroughs that can possibly help save other lives.”

Now in its 33rd year, Swim Across America – Long Island Sound has contributed nearly $30 million towards cancer research, resulting in FDA approved immunotherapy treatments of Keytruda, Opdivo and Yervoy. The money raised locally stays local, providing cancer care and research grants to The Cancer Support Team, a Westchester-based home care program offering free services to patients and their families; to New York Presbyterian Children’s Hospital Pediatric Oncology Lab; to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Research Laboratories of Dr. Diaz and Dr. Kung Kids Department of Pediatrics; and to Weill Cornell Medicine Research Laboratory of Dr. Wolchok and Dr. Merghoub.

To learn more about Swim Across America – Long Island Sound or support Team Gina or other swimmers at eight pool swims being held this summer, go to swimacrossamerica.org/longislandsound.