In 2008, my sister, Karen, passed away after a long battle with colon cancer. Soon after, I began participating in the Swim Across America event to help raise money for cancer awareness, prevention, research, and treatment. After swimming for several years at the Orienta Beach Club, I am now completing the swim each year at the Chappaqua Swim & Tennis Club, where I have been the swim coach since 1998. A year before my sister passed away, David Simon lost his battle with cancer. David was the father of two members of our summer swim team, the husband of the then-Board President, and our team's unofficial photographer. In 2019, one of our youngest team members, 8-year-old Scarlett Chwatko, lost her fight against brain cancer. Scarlett was an inspiration to all who knew her. Her courage and perseverance were the impetus for the creation of the Brave Bunny Award, given to the swim team member who exhibits those same qualities each season. Team KiDS was named in memory of Karen, David, and Scarlett. I am also swimming in memory of friends and Westchester Masters Swimming teammates Jason Troiano and John Needham who lost their courageous battles with cancer respectively in 2020 and 2023.

     This year, as I did last year, I am also swimming for my brother, Alan, who developed renal cancer and had surgery last fall. Luckily, though the tumor was malignant, the cancer had not yet metastasized and he remains cancer free to this day.

     In 2016, Westchester Masters teammate Carrie Dillon and I completed the mile swim at all of the Westchester and Rockland County pool events. Since that year I have repeated this challenge (2020 excluded). In 2021, I was also able to complete the Long Island Sound open water event for the first time. For 2024, I'm excited about the opportunity to raise even more awareness for Swim Across America and its mission by completing a mile at all the pool swims (New York Athletic Club, Scarsdale Golf Club, Westchester Country Club, Chappaqua Swim & Tennis Club, Orienta Beach Club, Coveleigh Club, Larchmont Shore Club, and Lake Isle Country Club) for an eighth time. 

     In our lifetime, 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer. I joined the SAA community so that, together, we can change that. I am challenging myself by swimming in the Chappaqua Swim & Tennis pool swim and six more pool swims and raising as much money to fight cancer as I can. Please support me by sponsoring my swim and making a gift. Again, the money you give will go towards cancer research, prevention and treatment and will make an impact in the fight to find a cure.  Thank you for your generosity and may it lead to a cancer-free world!

You can make a credit card donation here, or send a check directly to the swimmer you are supporting, or to Swim Across America, P.O. Box 217, Larchmont, NY 10538.