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Welcome to the 18th year of Swim Across America-Fairfield County benefit swims.
We invite swimmers of all ages and skill levels, plus volunteers and spectators to join us in our Open Water Swim and Pool Swims to raise funds to fight cancer!
NEW FOR 2024: Kids Splash option for ages 6-11 - read more below!

6:30 am: Registration Opens!
8:05 am: Rolling Swim Start
10:00 am: Open water swim ends!
LOCATION
96 Cummings Point Road
Stamford, CT
Swim Options
.5 mile, 1.5 miles, 3 miles, Kids Splash
SAA My Way (Virtual)
Fundraising
18+: $500
Under 18: $300
BENEFITING
$227,139.89$250,000.00
FOLLOW AND GET ALL SAA—FAIRFIELD COUNTY UPDATES
EVENT INFO
ABOUT

Welcome to the Swim Across America - Fairfield County Open Swim season! Established in 2007 as SAA - Greenwich-Stamford, SAA - Fairfield County has donated over $5 million to our beneficiary, Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT) in Stamford, CT. Thank you for your support of groundbreaking cancer research in Fairfield County.

Each year we are proud to host over 375 swimmers and volunteers, spectators, and supporters, as well as Olympians near and far at our charity swims. We invite swimmers of all ages and skill levels to take part in our open water swim on Saturday, June 29 in Stamford, CT. Volunteers on land and water are also invited to sign up. For those who prefer the pool, we have many pool swims in Fairfield County between July and August.

Join us as we continue to Make Waves to Fight Cancer!

EVENT DETAILS
SWIMMER INFORMATION & REQUIREMENTS

General Fundraising Requirement:

All adult swimmers are required to raise at least $500 by event day. Swimmers under 18 are required to raise $300 by event day.

WaveMaker Status: $1,000 minimum:

WaveMakers go above and beyond the call of duty by raising at least $1,000 regardless of your age. Anyone can achieve WaveMaker status - swimmers, volunteers or SAA My Way participants. WaveMakers get special recognition and an exclusive WM gift on event day. You can learn more about WaveMaker Status here.

Swim as an Individual, or on a Team:

A person may elect to swim alone, or be part of a team. Many colleagues and college alumni will form teams, or teams may be formed in honor or memory of a loved one. All teams are inspirational and rewarding for all of us involved with Swim Across America. All team members are still required to meet the individual fundraising minimum of $500.

New for 2024! Kids Splash:

The Kids Splash is for kids ages 6-11 who would like to participate by swimming a short distance along the beach under supervision. Registration is $25 and each participant receives a shirt, towel and swim cap. There is no fundraising minimum for Kids Splash swimmers. However, they are encouraged to fundraise if they would like! Please follow the steps at the top of the page and click 'in-person swimmer' to get kids registered.

Angel Swimmers

For those who are hesitant about swimming in open water, we are happy to provide an “angel swimmer” to swim the course alongside you. Angel swimmers are experienced open water swimmers who encourage you, keep an eye on you and support you during your swim. If you think you may benefit from having an angel swimmer, please respond yes to the question presented in online registration. You may also reach out to answer any questions.

Distance Options:

  • 0.5 Mile
  • 1.5 Mile
  • 3.0 Mile

Registration Self-Donation:

Swimmers will be asked to kickstart your fundraising and let your supporters know you are personally committed to the mission of SAA. The registration self-donation is a 100% tax deductible donation that will be will be credited towards each swimmer's fundraising minimum. The minimum self-donation amount will change as follows:

  • Register before March 25 with a registration fee of $50
  • Register between March 25 and June 2 with a registration fee of $75
  • Register between June 3 and event day with a registration fee of $100

NOTE: Online registration will close Wednesday, June 26 at 9 p.m. EST. Event day registration will be available.

Wetsuit Policy:

Below 67° F ------ Required*
67.1° F - 79.9° F ------ Permitted
80° F and above ------ By approval only*

Swim skins are permitted.

*Exceptions may be reviewed and approved by the Risk Management Coordinator, Event Director, and Swim Course or Safety Coordinator. Local safety teams must be advised of the special exceptions.

Wetsuit Rentals and Purchases:

Local Rental: Cycleology in Westport, CT is offering 50% off a weekend or weekly rental of adult wetsuits.

Online Rental: Tri Wetsuit Rentals is offering a 15% discount off the $50 price of a wetsuit rental for our open water swim. Roundtrip shipping cost is an additional $20. Enter coupon code FINISH1 at checkout. Orders must be placed by 6/20 to ensure delivery in time for the event.

Online Rental: Kit Lender is offering a 10% discount off any Wetsuit or Kit rental. Roundtrip shipping costs are included. Wetsuits start at just $42.60 for the event. Enter coupon code SAAFCOWS0623 at checkout. Orders must be placed by 6/21 to ensure delivery on time for the event.

Wetsuit Purchase: Orca is an SAA wetsuit partner offering a 20% discount on all Orca purchases with code SAA20.

Waivers:

All swimmers and volunteers must complete the waiver found here.

What to Bring:

In addition to bringing any donations you have collected, please remember to bring the following items: directions to ACGT, a towel, sunscreen, a baseball hat or equivalent to shade your face, sweatshirt, sweatpants, wetsuit (when mandatory), board shirt (this goes underneath the wetsuit to prevent chafing around the neck), Vaseline or BodyGlide (for under the arms, neck area), 2 pairs of goggles, your cell phone to take pictures to post on social media, a reusable water bottle and don't forget a labeled bag that zips to put everything in!

2024 Swimmer Packet:

The 2024 Swimmer Packet will be distributed via email approximately five days before our event. It contains important information about the schedule, what to expect and what to bring. For reference, find the 2023 packet here before the event.

YOUR IMPACT

 

MSKCC

Since 2007, SAA - Fairfield County has granted more than $5 million to our beneficiary, Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy. Based in Stamford, CT, ACGT is the only nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to funding innovative scientists working to harness the power of cell and gene therapy to transform how cancer is treated.

2023 Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy Research Fellows Funded by Swim Across America Fairfield County

Chen.png

Sidi Chen, PhD, Assistant Professor, Yale University School of Medicine Department of Genetics, Systems Biology Institute and Cancer Center, West Haven, CT (Profile)
Project: Initial Development of a Novel CRISPRa-Based Immune Gene Therapy for PDAC (pancreatic cancer)
“I believe in the power and potential of cell and gene therapies and I am confident they are the key to transforming the future of cancer care. ACGT, with the help of Swim Across America, has had profound impact in raising awareness and advancing knowledge in this arena. I am grateful for ACGT’s years of leadership and for its interest in my research. I am proud to be a member of the ACGT and Swim Across America community.”

Chen.png

Brian Brown, PhD, Director, Icahn Genomics Institute, Associate Director, Precision Immunology (PrIISM), Professor, Genetics & Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NY (Profile)
Project: Equipping a patient's own T cells to kill immunesuppressing macrophages in tumors (lung cancer)
“These successes demonstrate the power of innovative thinking and the tenacity of scientists to translate ideas into solutions. Early failures provided valuable insights that are making it possible to find successful ways forward. We are grateful for risk-taking organizations like Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy and Swim Across America that are willing to fund new ideas even when clinical success is not necessarily assured.”

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Juan Fueyo MD, Professor and Director, Department of Neuro-Oncology - Research, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas (Profile)
Project: Glioblastoma Goal: The development of novel gene therapy strategies for the treatment of malignant gliomas (brain cancer)

Read more about the research of the 2023 fellows in the SAA-Fairfield County Impact Report.

Dr. Robyn GartrellSwim Across America - Fairfield County also supports childhood cancer research thanks to the annual Golf Outing with Petretti & Associates. The event allows us to grant funding to Dr. Robyn Gartrell to help support a clinical trial she is leading through Children's Oncology Group. Dr. Gartrell is moving her laboratory from Columbia University to Johns Hopkins University in 2024 and this support will help her continue her work studying pediatric cancers.

SAA MY WAY

What is SAA MY WAY?

SAA My Way is our virtual offering where you decide your activity and timeline. Register with a $50 self-donation and we’ll send you an SAA Swag Bag to show off your spirit. All donations raised for your My Way will support our SAA-Fairfield County event. Click here to learn about all the ways you can have fun your way!

To sign up as an SAA My Way participant for our event, click the register button above and select 'SAA My Way' as your participation type.

VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers are the backbone of the Swim Across America Family ensuring our event run smoothly from beginning to end. Even if you aren’t a swimmer, you can still help us in the fight against cancer. Don’t forget, volunteers can fundraise too if they want! Ready to volunteer with us? Click on the Register button and select the Volunteer participation type.

Land Volunteers

Land Volunteers staff all aspects of our event on land. You can anticipate helping with set up, swimmer check-in, finish line support, hospitality and post-swim events/clean up.

Water Volunteers

Water volunteers consist of kayakers, stand-up paddleboarders and power boaters that provide crucial logistical and safety support to our event officials and for our swimmers. They will monitor the swim lane, keep an active eye on all our swimmers and communicate any swimmer issues to our event officials.

Angel Swimmers

Angel Swimmers are experienced open water swimmers who are willing to accompany a nervous swimmer throughout the course. Angel swimmers must be able to swim all distances and help out if the swimmer needs. To register as an angel swimmer, choose “volunteer” and then select Angel Swimmer. The local planning team will have final approval of angel swimmers.

Questions about volunteering? Check out our SAA Volunteer Page or contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Julie Colligan.

FUNDRAISING RESOURCES

If this is your first time participating or if you just need some tips to be a better fundraiser, click here. It will walk you through the participant center and teach you how to email donors, share on social media sites and download the fundraising app. You can find more helpful resources on our fundraising resources page.


NEW! Watch these instructional videos to learn how to register, update your participant center, connect to Facebook and more!


Be a WaveMaker by taking your fundraising to the next level and raising $1000! Anyone can achieve WaveMaker status - swimmers, volunteers or SAA My Way participants. WaveMakers get special recognition and an exclusive WM gift on event day. You can learn more about WaveMaker Status here.

You may support the participant of your choice by making an online donation. Or you may send a check, payable to Swim Across America, to the address below:

Swim Across America
PO Box 681,
Riverside, CT 06878

Make sure to include a note with the name of the participant you are donating to.

Swim Across America, Inc. (“SAA”) is a nonprofit corporation recognized by the IRS with federal tax-exempt status as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Tax ID #22-3248256)

SAFETY

SAA Safety & Policies:

Participant safety is the most important component of all our events. All swimmers will be asked to follow specific safety procedures and policies to participate, as well as comply with SAA safety personnel, including local and government entities, lifeguards, and water safety volunteers. Participants are responsible for adequately preparing for their registered event. We ask that all participants review the information packet provided in advance of event day, as well as attend the day-of safety briefing for important safety information.

Waiver:

All swimmers and volunteers must complete the waiver found here.

If you have questions about our policies regarding inclement weather, swim equipment or wetsuits, please consult our Policies page.

SCHEDULE

Schedule is tentative and subject to change.

6:00 am: Volunteers Arrive

6:30 am: 3-Miler Registration

7:00 am: 1.5-Miler and 1/2 Miler Registration

7:30 am: Group Photograph at the Patio

7:45 am: Welcome & National Anthem

7:55 am: Honored Speaker

8:05 am: 3 Milers Begin

8:20 am: 1.5 Milers Begin

8:40 am: 1/2 Milers Begin

9:45 am: Awards Ceremony

10:00 am: 2023 Open Water Swim Ends!

WETSUITS

Wetsuit Policy:

Below 67° F ------ Required*
67.1° F - 79.9° F ------ Permitted
80° F and above ------ By approval only*

Swim skins are permitted.

*Exceptions may be reviewed and approved by the Risk Management Coordinator, Event Director, and Swim Course or Safety Coordinator. Local safety teams must be advised of the special exceptions.

Wetsuit Rentals and Purchases:

Local Rental: Cycleology in Westport, CT is offering 50% off a weekend or weekly rental of adult wetsuits.

Online Rental: Tri Wetsuit Rentals is offering a 15% discount off the $50 price of a wetsuit rental for our open water swim. Roundtrip shipping cost is an additional $20. Enter coupon code FINISH1 at checkout. Orders must be placed by 6/20 to ensure delivery in time for the event.

Online Rental: Kit Lender is offering a 10% discount off any Wetsuit or Kit rental. Roundtrip shipping costs are included. Wetsuits start at just $42.60 for the event. Enter coupon code SAAFCOWS0623 at checkout. Orders must be placed by 6/21 to ensure delivery on time for the event.

Online Purchase: Orca is an SAA wetsuit partner offering a 20% discount on all Orca purchases with code SAA20

VENUE & GETTING THERE

Course Map

2016 Atlanta Map

Directions:

Swim Location: 96 Cummings Point Road in Stamford, CT
Take Connecticut Turnpike (I-95) to Exit 5. At the traffic light at the end of the ramp, take a right onto East Putnam Avenue (U.S. route 1). At the first light, take a right onto Sound Beach Avenue. Bear right at the rotary and continue on Sound Beach Avenue to end (approximately 1.9 miles). Turn left onto Shore Road. Proceed to third stop sign (approximately .8 miles), turn right onto Cummings Point Road. Follow Cummings Point Road and look for event parking signs and volunteers.

Places to Stay:

The following hotels are centrally-located for swimmers attending this event:

Sheraton Stamford Hotel
700 East Main Street
Stamford, CT 06901
(203) 358-8400

Hyatt Regency Greenwich
1800 East Putnam Avenue
Old Greenwich, CT 06870
(203) 409-4350

JUNIOR ADVISORY BOARD

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS!! The Junior Advisory Board (JAB) is a group of dedicated students who help lead the fundraising efforts and build awareness for Swim Across America Fairfield County. If you or anyone you know seems like a good fit, check back here in the fall for the 2024-2025 Junior Advisory Board (JAB) application. TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

Questions? Contact Anne Gustafsson at annesnead@aol.com or Kara Mendelsohn at kara.mendelsohn@gmail.com.

GOLF OUTING WITH PETRETTI & ASSOCIATES SUPPORTING SAA & TEAMJF

2024 GOLF OUTING

Quaker Ridge Golf Club

146 Griffen Ave, Scarsdale, NY 10583
Date: May 13, 2024

Annual Golf Outing with Petretti & Associates in support of Swim Across America and TeamJF. Proceeds from the event will help "Make Waves to Fight Cancer" and raise money for cancer research, prevention and treatment. TeamJF was established in 2017 by Julian Fraser’s friends and family after he fought and lost a year-long battle with osteosarcoma. Julian was an All-American Swimmer and Collegiate Water Polo player when he was diagnosed at age 19. Unfortunately, Julian’s story is not uncommon. That’s our reason for being to raise money to fund promising research that will save the lives of other children and young adults.

SIP & SHOP GIRLS' NIGHT OUT BOUTIQUE

Innis Arden Golf Club, 120 Tomac Avenue Greenwich, CT 06870
Date: 2024 TBA

Annual Sip & Shop at Innis Arden Golf Club in Old Greenwich, CT. Since 2016, this fun event has been a destination for sipping wine and holiday shopping with friends while raising funds for cancer research. Sip, shop, and support SAA - Fairfield County! Follow @sipandshopgreenwich on Instagram. Click here for info about last year’s event.

POOL SWIMS

Innis Arden Pool Weekend

Innis Arden Pool Weekend
Date: TBA

Stamford Yacht Club Pool Swim

Stamford Yacht Club Pool
Date: TBA

Fairfield County Swimming League (FCSL) Pool Swims

Dates TBA: Stay tuned for participating clubs and dates.

Rocky Point Inner Tube Water Polo

Rocky Point Inner Tube Water Polo
Date: TBA

Interested in starting a pool swim to raise funds for SAA-Fairfield County? Check out our "Start A Pool Swim" page or email us to learn more!

TO BECOME A PARTNER

You can find our 2023 Partnership Guide here. Thank you to all our generous partners that share our mission of fighting cancer.

IN THE NEWS

IN THE NEWS

Here are some recent stories that display the impact all the members of the Swim Across America family have had in the Fairfield County Community.

VIDEO

Relive the Moments: 2023 SAA-Fairfield County video


CONTACT US

Follow us on social media at @SAAFAIRFIELDCO on Facebook and Instagram.

If you have any questions about SAA - Fairfield County, please contact Nancy Carr.

PLATINUM PARTNERS
GOLD PARTNERS
SILVER PARTNER
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MEDIA PARTNER
National Partners
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