Friends:   I am going to be participating in Swim Across America (“SAA”), an event that raises money for cancer research, clinical trials and patient programs (for you cyclists, it is the swimming version of Pelotonia).  SAA was founded in 1987, and has since raised over $100M.   SAA hosts a number of events across the U.S. each year – I will be swimming one mile in Lake Michigan at Ohio Beach in Chicago, IL on August 6.

Just about everyone is impacted by cancer in some way.  It has profoundly impacted the lives of those I love and our immediate family in recent years.  We lost Donna’s father, Bob McLain, in 2011 after a battle with multiple myeloma, my sister-in-law, Jordana Rieger, in 2018 after a battle with colon and liver cancer, and most recently my younger brother Matt Rieger (who lived in Chicago) in October 2021 to pancreatic cancer – all way too young.  My father has also fought cancer in recent years.  In 2013, I was diagnosed with melanoma, which fortunately was detected very early.

Events like SAA make a difference in the ongoing battle against cancer – 100% of every dollar raised goes directly to the fight against cancer.  Incredible progress has been made, but there is still much work to be done in this fight.  I hope you will consider supporting this effort in any way that you can.  Here is a link to my personal donation page:

https://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/TR/OpenWater/Chicago?px=1739956&pg=personal&fr_id=6008

I know many of you support and are asked to support many charitable causes.  Accordingly, I fully understand if you do not wish, or are not in a position, to support my effort.  In any event, I appreciate your thought and consideration.  

Thanks,

Thad