My two intersecting worlds:

My family is known locally in Islamorada for our participation in a lively, encouraging swim community in Islamorada with lots of fascinating Keys characters from club swimming to masters swimming to a college team and the Alligator Reef Lighthouse 8.1 mile swim.

I wasn't personally touched by cancer until recently. Lost a family member to Pancreatic Cancer a few years ago, my BPW sister continues to fight breast cancer, my brother was diagnosed and died soon after of throat cancer in 2022, playing more a hand than I realized at the time to my joining the Keys team at Baptist Health Foundation, and another family member was diagnosed with Breast Cancer at the beginning of 2024. 

I'm forming this team to swim it myself for the first time this year because this local event specifically funds research locally being conducted at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute focused on Breast Cancer that has matastasized to the brain. 

I am encouraging my BPW sisters and others to join me April 20th to fund research but also as part of a larger project this year to bring my friends out into the sunshine and out of their comfort zones who may not normally considers themselves a swimmer or an athlete. This event doesn't take itself too seriously and is a lot of fun.  I've always been that person with an extra swimsuit in my car in case you forgot yours.  This effort also falls under our priorities in the State BPW legislative Platform  "Access to Healthcare for Women in Florida with a special emphasis on Breast Cancer treatment". Come join me in the water or support our effort! 

Founded in 1987, Swim Across America has hosted charity swims with one goal: to raise money for innovative cancer research that would lead to breakthrough treatments and therapies. Since then, Swim Across America has raised over $100M to fund the next generation of pioneers in oncology and cancer-support care. 

I joined Swim Across America because I believe in their mission and want to help give more families hope. If you are able, please support me by making a donation to help me reach my fundraising goal. 

Thank you for helping me #MakeWavesToFightCancer.