BRIDGEPORT, Connecticut – St. Vincent’s SWIM Across the Sound will be celebrating 31 years on August 4, 2018, as approximately 160 swimmers, accompanied by 100 boats, will swim across Long Island Sound to raise money and support for the thousands of people who are battling cancer and their families. As the swimmers make their way across the Sound, hundreds of supporters will gather from 2 – 6 p.m. to cheer them on as they make their final approach to Captain’s Cove Seaport in Bridgeport, CT. The dockside celebration is free and open to the public.
“It’s not about coming in first or having the fastest time; it’s about raising money for the families,” says Robert (Bobby) Fulton, a Bridgeport native who is also a security guard at St. Vincent’s Medical Center and captain of the Bullsharks relay team. “And that feeling you get when you get on the dock and you’re standing there and everyone’s cheering for you – I still get goosebumps when I think about it. That, to me, is the best part of it!”
The public is invited to head to Captain’s Cove, located at One Bostwick Avenue in the historic Black Rock neighborhood of Bridgeport, to cheer on the swimmers as they finish this unique event. The maritime amusement center will be alive with music, entertainment and vendor booths, and the boardwalk shops and restaurant will be open, too. Children of all ages can partake in face painting and balloon art.
Swimmers come from towns all across Connecticut, surrounding states and from as far away as Florida, Texas and Washington. This year, there are two international swimmers participating -- one from Mexico and the other from England. The fastest swimmers are expected to start to cross the finish line at approximately 2:30 p.m., depending on the weather. Things will really heat up after 4:00 pm when the bulk of the swimmers finish.
St. Vincent’s SWIM Across the Sound Marathon is recognized as one of America’s Top Open Water Swims. Swimmers from all over the world have participated in the annual Marathon. At 15.5 miles, the SWIM is one of the longest challenges on the World Open Water Swim Association (WOWSA) Top 100 list. The Marathon, which begins at West Beach in Port Jefferson, NY, and culminates at Captain’s Cove, includes solo swimmers, two-person relays and four- to six-member relay teams. Universities and corporations also form relay teams.
The St. Vincent’s SWIM Across the Sound Marathon is more than just an exciting open-water sporting event. Individual swimmers and relay teams raise a specified minimum amount of money in order to participate. Swimmers raise money through pledges from friends, families, and businesses to help provide cancer patients and their families with financial support and care for needs that health insurance does not cover. Boat captains donate their time and fuel for the day to escort swimmers or serve as perimeter boats. All net proceeds are used to help individuals and families who are battling the multi-faceted challenges of cancer.
The SWIM Marathon presents a unique opportunity for swimmers to challenge their own stamina and achieve new goals. Many swimmers and boaters choose to participate because cancer has affected their lives, or their family and friends in some way, and they want to help others with the struggles cancer brings.
St. Vincent’s SWIM Across the Sound provides cancer education, screening, and prevention programs at low- or no-cost for the uninsured and underinsured. In addition, the SWIM helps individual cancer patients on a case-by-case basis with specific needs, such as the funding of wigs and prostheses, payment of utilities or rent, medication assistance, free transportation to treatments and appointments, day-care scholarships, support groups and more. For more information on the SWIM, visit www.SwimAcrosstheSound.org.
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About St. Vincent’s SWIM Across the Sound
St. Vincent’s SWIM Across the Sound is a charitable not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization run by the St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation of Bridgeport, CT. Founded in 1987 and celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year, the SWIM has had a unique niche helping individuals and families struggling through the difficult changes that cancer brings with it. The SWIM serves approximately 30,000 people annually by providing over 45 programs, including cancer education, screening, prevention and support programs at low- or no-cost for the uninsured and underinsured. In addition, the SWIM helps individual cancer patients on a case-by-case basis with specific financial assistance, funding of wigs and prostheses, medication assistance, free transportation to treatments and appointments, day-care scholarships, support groups and more. For more information, contact the St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation at (203) 576-5451 or visit www.SwimAcrossTheSound.org.