Bonjour, Hola, привіт, howdy, and hi, 

I registered for Swim Across America in San Francisco this year and wanted to reach out to all the amazing folks that have supported my previous efforts to fundraise for Dr. Robert Goldsby and Dr. Julie Saba.  Together we’ve raised almost $30,000 for UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in the six years that I’ve participated in Swim Across America.  Last year my goal was $10,000 and we raised more than $17,000.  This year I’m setting an ambitious goal of $20,000!

Throughout the pandemic, Dr. Robert Goldsby and Dr. Julie Saba have continued their important work at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital.  With your support, Dr. Goldsby will continue to offer incredible patient and post-treatment care, and Dr. Saba will continue her work to find cures for cancer through gene therapy research.

Last year, in addition to participating in the San Francisco Swim Across America Event, I set a goal to swim the Catalina Channel to support my fundraising efforts.  It was an incredible experience I’ll remember for the rest of my life. Here are two videos from my Catalina Channel swim:getting into the water at catalina and swimming through sunrise. Reminding myself that my effort was nothing compared to what cancer patients face every day kept me going.  

This year in addition to the Swim Across America event in San Francisco I’ll attempt a marathon and an ultramarathon swim to support my fundraising. Here is a 4 ½ hour training swim in the Bay in April of this year. In June I’ll attempt a Round Trip Angel Island swim, swimming from San Francisco Aquatic Park, around Angel Island, and back to San Francisco’s Aquatic Park.  In July I’m going to attempt to swim from Molokai, HI to Oahu, Hi, across the Molokai Channel.  

I am so excited to continue swimming with Team Susan Survives, the San Francisco based team that I’ve swum with, under Susan Helmrich, my friend, high school swim coach, and 3-time cancer survivor.

I am also going to continue the tradition of writing the names of folks who have fought cancer on my swim cap.  Please let me know any name you would like me to add to the cap that I will use on either Molokai or during the Swim Across America event.

You can make a credit card donation here, or send a check to Swim Across America, c/o Nathaniel Berger, 1684 8th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122.  Checks should be made out to Swim Across America but please include a note mentioning my name-Maya Merhige-as the swimmer you are supporting!

Thank you for your generosity and may it lead to a cancer-free world!

Thanks, 

Maya