COBS Bread raises dough to support Swim Across America Fairfield County

The Hyden family, owners of two COBS Bread franchises in Greenwich (Riverside) and Stamford, Connecticut, believe that giving back to the community is just part of doing business. As longtime supporters of Swim Across America Fairfield County, they also believe that supporting cancer research, especially when the beneficiary is local, is just a win-win for everyone involved.  

This year, their sixth year supporting Swim Across America Fairfield County, the Hyden family and both of their COBS Bread stores are going in big and making a splash for Swim Across America Fairfield County by hosting two barbecues, earmarking a portion of proceeds from the sale of their famous Gourmet Hamburger and Hot Dog Buns, soliciting donations in their stores, and feeding the Swim Across America Fairfield County swimmers and volunteers on August 8, the day of the big open water swim.

“Our family has lived in the Riverside, Old Greenwich and Stamford area for 17 years, after moving from Australia,” noted Rob Hyden, owner of COBS Bread Riverside and Stamford stores. “Our three sons were all heavily involved with the Greenwich aquatics community through water polo and swimming. We know a number of friends in the community who have sadly been impacted by cancer, in many forms, and we believe that Swim Across America Fairfield County does great work in fundraising for cutting edge cures with its local beneficiary Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy. We like to think that feeding the athletes and volunteers on the day of the swim with great, natural and satisfying foods, helps make everyone happy, plus raises more funds for research. In a time when more are becoming aware of where the foods they eat are sourced, and have a desire to eat more naturally, healthier ingredients, we believe we have a great story to tell, and a great contribution to make.”

COBS Bread Riverside and Stamford will offer customers the opportunity to donate directly to Swim Across America Fairfield County right in their stores, as they pick up their baked goods. They will also donate $1 of every sale of Gourmet Hamburger & Hot Dog Buns between now and the Swim on August 8, and will be holding two barbecues on July 31 (5 Riverside Lane, Riverside) and August 1 (1057 High Ridge Rd., Stamford) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., where the proceeds will go to Swim Across America Fairfield County. The day of the big open water swim on August 8, COBS will be on-site selling their famous bacon, egg & cheese sandwiches on a bun with all funds being donated to Swim Across America Fairfield County. 

Swim Across America Fairfield County is in its 15th year of making waves to fight cancer. It is one of 21 open water swims from Boston Harbor to under the Golden Gate Bridge offered by the national nonprofit Swim Across America. Swim Across America is a national organization, but its roots are firmly anchored in Connecticut and along the shores of Long Island Sound as Darien, Connecticut, resident Matt Vossler and his lifelong friend and college roommate Jeff Keith founded Swim Across America in 1987.

Each swim also always supports a local beneficiary — the Fairfield County swim supports Stamford-based Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy — and has generated $4.3 million to support 11 scientists working on new cancer gene therapy treatments. Throughout its years, Swim Across America has raised more than $100 million in the fight against cancer.

More than 120 Olympians support Swim Across America, including Michael Phelps, Craig Beardsley, Donna De Varona (a Greenwich resident and honorary Fairfield County co-chair), Rowdy Gaines, Janel Jorgensen McArdle (who grew up in Ridgefield, Connecticut), Bobby Hackett, Ryan Lochte, Glenn Mills, Christina Teuscher (who participates in the Fairfield County event) and many more.

To learn more about Swim Across America Fairfield County or to register to swim, volunteer or donate, visit swimacrossamerica.org/fc or follow on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @SAAFairfieldCo or email nancycarr@swimacrossamerica.org.

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Submitted by Cos Cob, CT

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