Thank you for visiting my personal page!

3 years ago, I began my journey with Swim Across America because I was holding in a huge secret - my grandma had cancer. You see, she didn't want anyone to know because she didn't want anyone to feel sorry for her or treat her differently. Learning that she had cancer was such a scary time for me. I was 15. What could I possibly do to help her?

I could swim. And I could raise money.

I am devastated to say that on July 6, 2023, my Meme, Peggy Black, lost her battle with cancer. She was taken from us too soon. Her absence has left my family heartbroken. 

But I am not the only person to lose a grandparent. People everywhere are losing grandparents, mothers, fathers, friends, and children to a vicious disease that spares no one...not even the grandmother that I loved with my whole heart.   

Every year, I have set a goal. And every year YOU have helped me shatter that goal. I have only been able to do this because YOU have supported me. This year, in honor of my Meme, I am setting my bar SUPER high - $5000!

Please help me honor her by, once again, helping me reach this goal. 

And if YOU have someone you have lost or who is battling cancer right now, please share this with me. I want to swim for them too! In fact, we make special "stones" to toss into the lake before we swim so that we may "carry" them with us. Please let me do this for YOU too.

Thank you for helping me #MakeWavesToFightCancer. Together, let's blow cancer RIGHT OUT OF THE WATER!

Love,

Mia