Hundreds of swimmers plunged into Long Island Sound Saturday morning to raise money for cancer research in the fourth annual Greenwich/Stamford Swim Across America. Participants ranged from age nine to a few in their 70s, and had a choice of racing a half-mile course, a 1.5 mile course, or a challenging five-mile course. SAA's cause continues to grow as this year's swim had its biggest turnout yet, with friends and family of swimmers cheering from the shore.
The first swimmer to cross the finish line was Mitchell Towne of Greenwich, a junior at Hackley School in Tarrytown, N.Y. Towne completed the 1.5 mile race that began at Tod's Point in Greenwich in just over 37 minutes. Two of Towne's grandparents have been diagnosed with cancer, one a survivor, the other still battling the disease.
"I've been raising money at my school, trying to get the word out," Towne said. "I've been doing this for two years. It was great."
All of the proceeds raised from the Greenwich/Stamford Swim go to the Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy. ACGT specializes in innovative and cutting edge treatments for cancer. Swimmers were welcomed ashore on the grounds of ACGT's Stamford headquarters with towels, music, and lots of cheering.
"Today has been totally amazing a perfect ten," event co-director Jacque Lang said. "Everything came together for such a good cause swimmers, volunteers, boaters, kayakers, people schlepping water, people cutting strawberries the whole thing."
Just three swimmers competed in the demanding five-mile course, including Glenn Mills, who was named to the 1980 U.S. Olympic team. A reception was held after the swim to honor the participants, but also to remember the importance of the cause.
"Today is all about people coming out to not only support loved ones and people that they've lost, but to make sure that everyone knows that there is hope for the future," said Kay Foley, program manager at Swim Across America's national headquarters in Boston. "Not only by fundraising, but just by being here, they're trying to prove that everybody needs to keep believing and there can be change."
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