Swim Across America’s Long Island Sound Chapter (SAA-LIS) is kicking off its 27th year of Westchester swimming events to raise critical funds for cutting-edge cancer research, prevention and treatment.
SAA-LIS, which raised almost $1.2 million last year, will offer eight opportunities to swim and volunteer in Westchester this season, says Chapter President Tony Sibio. The open-water signature swim will take place on July 27th in Larchmont’s Long Island Sound, with pool swims scheduled between July 12 and August 3.
“Every year hundreds of swimmers at every age and experience level and countless volunteers and sponsors come together as a community to raise funds to eradicate cancer,” says Mr. Sibio. “All of us have been touched by this insidious disease in some way, but we keep pushing forward because we know that hope has no finish line, and we will someday find a cure.”
Proceeds from the swims will support immunotherapy research at the Swim Across America Laboratory at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, pediatric oncology research at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian and patient services with Westchester-based Cancer Support Team.
The summer program will encompass seven pool swims (with the option of half-mile and one-mile efforts) plus an open-water swim course on Long Island Sound that will offer participants the option of swimming 2K, 5K or 10K. The open-water swim, which starts at Larchmont Yacht Club and ends at Larchmont Shore Club, has been recognized by the World Open Water Swimming Association as one of America's Top 100 Open Water Swims.
The full roster of participating locations, dates and times is as follows:
- NYAC Travers Island, Pelham, NY
- Westchester Country Club, Rye, NY
July 13 -- 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
- Orienta Beach Club, Mamaroneck, NY
July 20 -- 6:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
- Lakeside Field Club, North Salem, NY
July 21 -- 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (night swim and BBQ to follow)
- Coveleigh Club, Rye, NY
July 23 -- 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (members only)
- Long Island Sound Open Water, Larchmont, NY
July 27 -- 6 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- Chappaqua Swim & Tennis Club, Chappaqua, NY
July 28 – 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (night swim and BBQ to follow)
- Lake Isle Country Club, Eastchester, NY
August 3 -- 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Those interested in participating in 2019 Swim Across America-LIS events can register to swim, kayak, volunteer to help, or sponsor a swimmer at www.swimacrossamerica.org/long_island. Donations can be sent to SAA-Long Island Sound, P.O. Box 217, Larchmont, NY 10538.
“They say that heroes wear capes and can fly,” says Mr. Sibio, “but at SAA-LIS our heroes wear caps and swim. By participating in the pool and open water swims and raising important funds, our swim community once again has the opportunity to help save lives.”