Hello all - as I expressed to many of you in my personal page last year, the most difficult part of this Swim is in fact creating a personal message - as it, by necessity, requires a personal reflection of why I swim for this cause – which in turn takes me down the path of remembering/praying and reflecting on all of those who have suffered and died from, and/or who continue to suffer and battle, this dreaded disease. (I realize that was a very long first sentence).

On the positive side though, I also reflect on what the Swim Across America Lab (the name of the lab created solely from Swim Across America – Baltimore funds) at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins has been able accomplish since the inaugural swim in 2010. Although not every cancer patient I know has been treated at Kimmel, I do believe that many institutions have benefited from the research studies which were initiated with SAA funds. As I have said in the past, at each SAA-Baltimore swim, a representative from the Kimmel Cancer Center addresses the swimmers and gives a report of how SAA funds earned at the previous swim were used during the year, and the representative is often joined by cancer patients who tell their stories of how they benefited from a particular study funded by SAA.

Last year was my return to the swim after a hiatus due to the Covid year and then lung cancer surgery in 2021. I did the 1 mile pool swim with my sister Karen, also a cancer survivor who continues to undergo treatment to keep her cancer in remission.  I am happy to say that I am in much better shape this year than last, and our plan is to do the swim together again.

I have given up trying to name, either on my arms or in this page, all of those who have died and/or have been or who are currently battling cancer, lest I leave someone out.  As to the many survivors, some of you who are on this email, I have not forgotten your struggles. As to those who have not survived, their names are in my heart.  Notwithstanding, I do want to single out a few for whom I dedicate my swim this year:  In honor of Joe F., Judy G., and John P., who continue their battle, and in memory of Rick W., who lost his short battle this spring – and always, in memory of the person for whom I first swam, my beloved sister, Chris.

Susan Spence