Five hundred or more swimmers are expected to turn out for the 20th annual Swim Across America of Long Island Sound (SAALIS) on Saturday, July 28, 2012; approximately 100 kayakers will lend support. An attendance of 1,100 spectators is anticipated.
Late-registration is still possible for swimmers; registration via the Internet can be made at www.swimacrossamerica.org/long_island through Friday, July 27 or in person at 6 a.m. on the day of the event. Donations are required to participate; rate information is provided on the website.
Activities begin at 7 a.m. at the Larchmont Yacht Club (the start location for the swimmers) and end at the Larchmont Shore Club (the finish point).
For the third year in a row, the organizers hope to raise one million dollars for several cancer fighting causes (a goal first achieved in 2010 and reached again in 2011). Since the introduction of the Long Island Sound Swim in 1993, more than $12 million has been raised. The 2012 event beneficiaries are:
- Swim Across America Laboratory and DeMatteo Research Laboratory at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Cancer Support Team (Westchester County based organization)
- Morgan Stanley’s Children's Hospital of New York - Presbyterian at Columbia University Medical Center
- Tommy Palazzo Fellowship at Columbia University
Event officials report that a portion of the funds raised for the 2011 Long Island Sound Swim were used to help introduce a new drug therapy called Yervoy, developed for the treatment of advanced Melanoma.
Boats will transport the swimmers to buoy sites; depending on their abilities, swimmers can elect to swim one, four or six miles to return to shore.
The program includes a brunch for the attendees, presentations by representatives of the beneficiaries and an announcement of monies contributed.
Pool swim planned for August 4
A pool swim with proceeds to go to the same beneficiaries is scheduled for Saturday, August 4 at the Lake Isle Country Club in Eastchester, starting at 6 a.m. Swimmers may swim a mile, a half-mile mile or as part of a relay team. All swimmers will receive a T-shirt and a towel, and possibly other promotional items. To qualify for participation, a donations is required. Special reduced rates apply for high school students. For more details go to www.swimacrossamerica.org/long_island
Donations can be made by check; make check payable to Swim Across America and mail to P.O. Box 217, Larchmont, NY 10538
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