In honor of our swim club’s founding head coach Kevin Storrs who recently passed away, for my father Kazunari Kondo (esophageal cancer), for my mother-in-law Sharon Bourassa (bone and breast cancer), and for Yati (breast cancer) who left too soon. So many people in our lives are impacted by cancer. I am not a swimmer, but I am volunteering as a paddleboarder in support of my soon-to-be 15 year old son that will be swimming the 3 miles.

My father grew up in post-war Japan. Despite only graduating from high school, he worked at the Yale University School of Medicine for 20 years where he co-authored a seminal paper on suppressor T cells. After hitting the mandatory retirement age in Japan at 67, my father became the oldest medical student to be admitted to the prestigious Keio University. At age 70, my father was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Even hospitalized, he would make his way down the hospital halls to the research lab to continue his studies and managed to finish and present his senior thesis with the help of his classmates. While my father passed away before he was awarded a degree, he has passed on his love of learning. 

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 would be honored if you are able to support me by making a donation to help me reach my fundraising goal. 

Thank you for helping me #MakeWavesToFightCancer.