Long Island Sound Swim History

Founded in 1987, as Swim Across Long Island Sound, Swim Across America, Inc. now has 13 swims in five states, including a 22-mile marathon. Since its inception, SAA has raised over 40 million dollars for cancer research and treatment programs at our country’s finest hospitals. In 1994, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York renamed one of its highest priority labs in honor of Swim Across America.

The Long Island Sound Swim started in Larchmont, New York in 1992 at the Larchmont Yacht Club with a 4-mile swim.  It was, and still is, dedicated to the memory of Mrs. Kathy Webers, who along with family and friends courageously battled cancer for over a year.  Our first year we had 35 swimmers and raised $15,000.

In 1994, the swim's course ended at the Larchmont Shore Club, where a brunch was held.  

Without a swim in 1996, the Long Island Swim Committee reformed and in addition to the 4-mile swim added the 1 mile swim.  We also added the Cancer Support Team and Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian at Columbia University Medical Center as additional beneficiaries.

In 1999, the Orienta Beach Club Pool 1/2 and 1- mile swims were added to provide for those who wanted to participate and support this event, but chose not to swim in Long Island Sound, or were too young to do so. 

In 2003, a 6 mile swim was added to the Sound Swims for those who wanted to raise the bar on their swimming capabilities. The Committe asked them to raise the bar on their fundraising abilities.

In 2005, the NYAC Travers Island Pool Swim was added to our events, providing 1/2 mile and 1 mile swims.

In 2005, a total of 592 swimmers participated either in the Pool Swims, Sound Swim or as an off-site swimmer and with over 200 volunteers. Over 1 million dollars was raised, by the time the last donation was received.

In 2006, we had a total of 634 swimmers, 477 swimmers in the Sound (3 6-milers, 122 4-milers, 352 1-milers), 153 pool  swimmers at the NYAC Pool and Orienta Beach Club Pool Swims, and 4 off-site swimmers.  We had 42 teams who swam in honor or in memory of loved ones. We raised over 1, 050,000 dollars from all the events.

In 2007, we had a total of 634 swimmers, 477 swimmers in the Sound (3 6-milers, 122 4-milers, 352 1-milers). 153 pool  swimmers at the NYAC Pool and Orienta Beach Club Pool Swims, and 4 off-site swimmers.  We had 39 teams who swam in honor or in memory of loved ones. We raised over 1, 031,000 dollars from all the events.

In 2011, we learned that the Swim Across America lab at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center was instrumental in the development of a USFDA approved revoluntionary new drug to treat advance skin cancer. We added more pool swims, introduced the "pool crawl" and raised over $1,245,000.

2013 will mark our 21st year in raising money to fight cancer through research, as well as provide for those who are going through treatment.  Our Committee has worked hard, but without your support we could not have done it alone. We give thanks to all of you who have partnered with us throughout the years to make this event such a success.