Swim to support SCCA Sept. 10

Take a fundraising swim for cancer research when Swim Across America Seattle returns Saturday, Sept. 10, to the waters off Mercer Island.

The third annual event offers participants the choice of a two-mile or half-mile course in Lake Washington. The two-mile swim begins at Mercer Island’s Mercerwood Shore Club (8 a.m. start); the half-mile begins at Luther Burbank Park’s swim beach (8:30 a.m. start), also on Mercer Island, where both will finish. Kids 11 and under are invited to a 50-meter freestyle open water Kids’ Splash.

Funds support pancreas cancer and SCCA

Contributions from this year’s event support research and treatment for pancreas cancer patients as well as research in the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance’s Cellular Therapy Lab, which helps to improve the ability of the SCCA to treat blood cancers including leukemia and lymphoma. Last year, the Seattle swim raised $140,000 for the SCCA.

Join Team SCCA or form your own

Each swimmer is responsible for a registration fee of $50, which counts toward a minimum fundraising requirement of $300. Sign up now; join Team SCCA or form your own team in honor or memory of someone who has battled cancer. Or—if you prefer—register as a volunteer.

A team of former U.S. Olympic swimmers including Mary Wayte, Jeff Float, Emily Silver and Janel Jorgensen will be on hand for the swims, followed by a celebration and award ceremony at Luther Burbank Park. Canadian Olympian Chris Chalmers will make a special appearance.

The event is part of the nationwide, nonprofit Swim Across America, an organization created in 1987 to raise money and awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment. To date, the organization has raised more than $30 million.