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Calling All Swimmers and Boat Captains! Register for the 27th Annual St. Vincent’s SWIM Across the Sound Open Water Marathon.
On August 2, 2014, approximately 200 swimmers, accompanied by 100 boats, will start the 25 kilometer SWIM at West Beach in Port Jefferson, NY and make their way across Long Island Sound to Captain’s Cove Seaport in Bridgeport, CT.
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 from Port Jefferson, in Long Island New York to Connecticut’s Captain’s Cove Marina in Bridgeport. At 15.5 miles, the SWIM is one of the longest challenges on the World Open Water Swim Association, WOWSA, Top 100 list.
The SWIM Marathon presents a unique opportunity for swimmers to challenge their own stamina and achieve new goals, all while helping someone who has cancer and nowhere else to turn. Swimmers raise money through pledges from friends, families, and businesses to help provide cancer patients and their families with financial support and care for the needs that health insurance does not cover.
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. Boat captains donate their time and fuel for the day to escort or guide swimmers and other boats in support of the fundraiser. The event raises over $400,000 annually. Net proceeds are used to help individuals and families who are battling the multi-faceted challenges of cancer.
Many swimmers and boaters choose to participate because cancer has affected their lives, or their family and friends in some way, and they understand and want to help others with the struggles cancer brings.
Doug Schwartz from the Multisport Partners relay commented,“Last year was a challenge. We were all struggling with the choppy waves. But, all I kept thinking was that this was just one day. So many people are battling for their lives every day people like my 6 year-old son Eli who is on a three-year course of treatments for leukemia. Thinking of him and others like him kept me going to the end.”
The marathon includes solo swimmers, two-person relays, and 4-6 member relay teams. Universities and Corporations also form relay teams in specialized category. Fund raising goals and registration fees vary by type of relay team.
Swimmers are encouraged to register as soon as possible for this year’s Marathon and compete with swimmers from around the world and of all abilities. Enrollments for the SWIM Marathon are considered on a first-come, first-serve, first-completed basis. To apply, or for more information on the SWIM, visit the Swim Across the Sound website.
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.
About SWIM Across the Sound
St. Vincent’s SWIM Across the Sound (swimacrossthesound.org) is a charitable not-for-profit 501©(3) organization run by the St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation of Bridgeport, CT. Since 1987, 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 St. Vincent's Swim Across the Sound website.
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deborah.cox[.]stvincents.org 
