Swim Across America has held a special place in the Payne family for the past 20 years. Team Payne was founded in 2004 by Tara Kupersmith in honor of her mother, Jane Payne who was diagnosed at age 46 with stage 4 cancer but fought long enough to meet all 16 of her grandchildren. As the years pass, our mission remains steadfast as we swim in honor of a growing list of family and friends diagnosed with cancer. We have seen first hand the impact that this event, and the subsequent Memorial Sloan Kettering donations, have on cutting edge cancer research and care. This year  we swim again in honor of Jane and Richard Payne, and in loving memory of Brian Payne, Lindsay Payne, William Finneran, Michelle Thompson, Bill Starr, Jennifer Nabi, David White, and Fritz Hackenburg. This year, it is with great sadness that we add our friend and LSC teammate, Gina Mannix to the list of loved ones we have lost. She was a beautiful person, and will be missed by so many.

On November 12th 2022, Brian Payne passed away after a long and strong-willed two year cancer battle. He was a loving husband, father, brother, friend, and stranger to any person who had the pleasure of knowing him, if only for a passing moment. He was also a devoted member of the SAA community. Brian was an inspired individual who led his life with integrity, bravery, and compassion; whether responding to a fire emergency, dominating a men's league hockey game, or drinking a Budweiser at the bar after the win, there was no one better to have by your side. Losing a loved one to cancer is an indescribable loss, but communities like Swim Across America allow for meaning and impact to develop and grow in the often overwhelming and consuming roots of grief and loss. Swim Across America has allowed for our energy as a family to be channeled into deep appreciation and love for a cause dear to all our hearts. 

We are proud to support the cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering and give hope to cancer patients and their families.

Cancer has taken too many lives too young. We swim in honor of all of those who have also lost a parent, spouse, sibling, or friend to cancer.  We fight to live in a world with a cure.